Atefeh Tizchang - Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran | Membrane Technology Research Center, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran
Yoones Jafarzadeh - Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran | Membrane Technology Research Center, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran
Reza Yegani - Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran | Membrane Technology Research Center, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran
Elham Shokri - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bonab, Bonab, Iran

In this study, polysulfone (PSf) nanocomposite membranes embedded with functionalized nanodiamond (ND) were prepared via Non-Solvent Induced Phase Separation (NIPS) method. ND nanoparticles were silanized by using the esterification reaction of hydrolyzed vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTS) in alcoholic solution in order to enhance the compatibility between ND and PSf. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that ND nanoparticles were successfully functionalized by silane groups. Nanocomposite membranes were then prepared with different percentages of silanized NDs (SNDs). The membranes were characterized using a set of analyses and the results showed that the addition of SNDs up to 1.0 wt.% resulted in an increase in hydrophilicity, water content, porosity and water flux of membranes. Moreover, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images indicated that the membrane with 1.0 wt. % nanoparticles had more pores on the membrane surface with smaller average pore size in comparison to other membranes. Antifouling properties of the membrane was also investigated in filtration of humic acid solution and the results showed that reversible fouling and flux recovery of membranes increased at the presence of SNDs.  

Polysulfone, Functionalization, Nanodiamond, Fouling, Nanocomposite