Integrated synergy: PSF/PANI/GO membranes for dual-action textile dye detoxification

Abstract

The current study addresses the challenge of dye contamination in textile wastewater by developing innovative hybrid polymeric membranes with dual adsorption and filtration capabilities. Through the integration of polyaniline (PANI) into the poly sulfone (PSF) matrix via the phase inversion method, a composite membrane was fabricated. Balancing the PANI concentration was crucial, as exceeding 2 wt% led to membrane brittleness and reduced mechanical strength. To address this, the graphene oxide (GO) concentration was optimized. This optimization enhanced the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite membrane. Nanocomposite membranes were well characterized for structural and chemical properties. Batch adsorption studies with MB revealed pseudo-second order kinetics and Langmuir isotherms. The ternary nanocomposite membranes (TCM) exhibited improved water permeability (100 to 534 L m⁻² h⁻¹), showcasing enhanced filtration capacity. TCM demonstrated a high flux recovery ratio, effectively removing 98% of 70 mg L⁻¹ dye at 0.1 MPa. The optimized TCM was successful in filtering real wastewater samples from the Faisalabad textile industry, demonstrating its potential for practical dye removal.