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چکیده
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The ability of alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles in adsorption of heavy metals was employed in improving the copper removal efficiency of PES membranes. Mixed matrix membranes were prepared using PES and different amounts of alumina nanoparticles by phase inversion method. The fabricated membranes were characterized in terms of morphology and performance using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses, water contact angle and porosity measurements, determination of pure water flux, copper ion removal, and reusability test. Mixed matrix membranes revealed higher water permeation compared with the pristine PES membrane just by adding small amounts of nanoparticles (≤1.0 wt.%) as a result of increasing the membrane porosity and hydrophilicity after addition of alumina nanoparticles into the membrane matrix. Moreover, copper ion removal efficiency of alumina mixed membranes was improved. Membrane performance tests as well as adsorptive nature of alumina nanoparticles proposed that adsorption was the most possible separation mechanism by mixed matrix membranes. Reusability test of membrane confirmed the durability of removal efficiency even after four cycles of filtration.
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