Evaluation of membrane tailored with biocompatible halloysite-polyaniline nanomaterial for efficient removal of carcinogenic disinfection by-products precursor from water

Humic acid (HA) is the main component of natural organic matter that generates carcinogenic by-products during disinfection and its removal from water resources is challenging. Biocompatible halloysite (HNTs) nanomaterial decorated with polyaniline (HNTs-PANI) was synthesized via polymerization technique. HNTsPANI was added to prepare polyethersulfone mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The influence of HNTs-PANI concentration on HA removal efficiency was studied by varying the HNTs-PANI (0.5, 1 and 1.5 wt%). The characterization studies of MMMs revealed that the addition of HNTs-PANI improved the morphology of the membranes, surface properties, chemical stability and thermal property. The amine and hydroxyl groups within the MMMs improved the membrane wettability. The addition of HNTs-PANI within the MMMs had significantly enhanced the pure water flux and HA filtration. YHP2 MMM with 1 wt% of HNTs-PANI demonstrated sieving coefficient of 0.10 and the highest HA removal efficiency of 91% greater than the neat PES membrane. Furthermore, the antifouling property of the MMMs was studied using HA as foulant. 1 wt% of HNTs-PANI added MMM showed a high flux recovery ratio (94.9%) with low total fouling of 12% and low irreversible fouling of 5%, respectively. Thus, HNTs-PANI was an efficient nanomaterial for enhancing the pure water flux, removal efficiency and antifouling property to treat water contaminated with HA.

Automated summary

The addition of HNTs-PANI improved the performance of mixed matrix membranes with enhanced HA removal efficiency and good antifouling properties.