Design of a high-performance polyaniline coated niobium dicarbide MXene nanostructure based electro-membrane system for improved nanoplastic separation

This study explores the development of advanced electro-membrane filtration by incorporating Nb-based MXene (Nb₂CT_x) to enhance nanoplastic (NP) separation and fouling mitigation. The presence of NPs in water results in less effective filtration, hence increasing cost, highlighting the urgent need for advanced removal technologies. Nb₂CT_x was incorporated at varying loadings, revealing significant alterations in their morphological, structural, and physiochemical properties. The performance evaluation using NP-rich suspensions demonstrated that the membrane with 5 % Nb₂CT_x loading (MS5) achieved a NP removal efficiency of 97.4 % and a water flux of 90.5 L.m⁻².h⁻¹, which was significantly higher than the pristine sulfonated polyether sulfone (SPES) membrane (18.9 L.m⁻².h⁻¹ with 94 % removal efficiency). The membrane was developed for an electro-membrane system using a sacrificial anode. The sacrificial anode allowed for multiple complex process to occur simultaneously, including electrocoagulation and membrane filtration. Polyaniline (PANI) coating was added to further increase the conductivity to allow for a more energy efficient process. The study underscores the importance of Nb₂CT_x loading and PANI modification in improving the filtration efficiency and fouling resistance. Furthermore, applied electric field resulted in enhanced operational sustainability of SPES membranes, offering a novel approach for water treatment applications.