TY - JOUR
T1 - Ag-CuO-Decorated Ceramic Membranes for Effective Treatment of Oily Wastewater
AU - Avornyo, Amos
AU - Thanigaivelan, Arumugham
AU - Krishnamoorthy, Rambabu
AU - Hassan, Shadi W.
AU - Banat, Fawzi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - Although ultrafiltration is a reliable method for separating oily wastewater, the process is limited by problems of low flux and membrane fouling. In this study, for the first time, commercial TiO2/ZrO2 ceramic membranes modified with silver-functionalized copper oxide (Ag-CuO) nanoparticles are reported for the improved separation performance of emulsified oil. Ag-CuO nanoparticles were synthesized via hydrothermal technique and dip-coated onto commercial membranes at varying concentrations (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 wt.%). The prepared membranes were further examined to understand the improvements in oil-water separation due to Ag-CuO coating. All modified ceramic membranes exhibited higher hydrophilicity and decreased porosity. Additionally, the permeate flux, oil rejection, and antifouling performance of the Ag-CuO-coated membranes were more significantly improved than the pristine commercial membrane. The 0.5 wt.% modified membrane exhibited a 30% higher water flux (303.63 L m−2 h−1) and better oil rejection efficiency (97.8%) for oil/water separation among the modified membranes. After several separation cycles, the 0.5 wt.% Ag-CuO-modified membranes showed a constant permeate flux with an excellent oil rejection of >95% compared with the unmodified membrane. Moreover, the corrosion resistance of the coated membrane against acid, alkali, actual seawater, and oily wastewater was remarkable. Thus, the Ag-CuO-modified ceramic membranes are promising for oil separation applications due to their high flux, enhanced oil rejection, better antifouling characteristics, and good stability.
AB - Although ultrafiltration is a reliable method for separating oily wastewater, the process is limited by problems of low flux and membrane fouling. In this study, for the first time, commercial TiO2/ZrO2 ceramic membranes modified with silver-functionalized copper oxide (Ag-CuO) nanoparticles are reported for the improved separation performance of emulsified oil. Ag-CuO nanoparticles were synthesized via hydrothermal technique and dip-coated onto commercial membranes at varying concentrations (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 wt.%). The prepared membranes were further examined to understand the improvements in oil-water separation due to Ag-CuO coating. All modified ceramic membranes exhibited higher hydrophilicity and decreased porosity. Additionally, the permeate flux, oil rejection, and antifouling performance of the Ag-CuO-coated membranes were more significantly improved than the pristine commercial membrane. The 0.5 wt.% modified membrane exhibited a 30% higher water flux (303.63 L m−2 h−1) and better oil rejection efficiency (97.8%) for oil/water separation among the modified membranes. After several separation cycles, the 0.5 wt.% Ag-CuO-modified membranes showed a constant permeate flux with an excellent oil rejection of >95% compared with the unmodified membrane. Moreover, the corrosion resistance of the coated membrane against acid, alkali, actual seawater, and oily wastewater was remarkable. Thus, the Ag-CuO-modified ceramic membranes are promising for oil separation applications due to their high flux, enhanced oil rejection, better antifouling characteristics, and good stability.
KW - ceramic membranes
KW - membrane coating
KW - nanocomposites
KW - oil/water separation
KW - TiO/ZrO
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149135189&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/membranes13020176
DO - 10.3390/membranes13020176
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85149135189
SN - 2077-0375
VL - 13
JO - Membranes
JF - Membranes
IS - 2
M1 - 176
ER -