Parisa Daraei

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were wrapped by poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) using a simple deep coating method, and 0.1 wt.% of polymer wrapped MWCNTs were implemented to fabricate PES mixed matrix membranes by phase inversion method. The success of wrapping was probed by FTIR spectroscopy. Based on the observed results, wrapping CNTs by PSS improved significantly permeation flux and dye removal efficiency of mixed matrix PES membrane. Results showed that membrane mixed with 0.1 wt.% polymer wrapped MWCNTs offered the highest permeation flux as well as dye removal efficiency. The effect of acidic and basic media as well as dye solution concentration on dye removal efficiency was monitored. The mixed matrix membrane offered high dye removal and water permeability in both acidic and basic media with the concentrated feed solution. The chemical structure and adsorptive properties of PSS resulted in improvement of dye removal capability along with higher permeability of mixed matrix membrane.