title: Preparation of hydrophilic nanofiltration membranes for removal of pharmaceuticals from water.
abstract: Asymmetric polyethersulfone (PES) nanofiltration membranes were prepared via phase inversion technique. PES polymer, Brij 58 as surfactant additive, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as pore former and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent were used in preparation of the casting solutions. Distillated water was used as the gelation media. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and measurements of contact angle (CA) and zeta potential were used to characterize the prepared membranes. Also performance of the membranes was examined by determining the pure water flux (PWF) and pharmaceuticals rejection. The addition of Brij 58 to the casting solution resulted in formation of the membranes with higher thickness and more porous structure in the sublayer in comparison with the net PES membrane. The surface hydrophilicity of the membranes was remarkably enhanced via the presence of Brij 58 in the casting solution, so that, the contact angel diminished from 74.7° to 28.3° with adding 6 wt. % of Brij 58 to the casting solution. The addition of Brij 58 to the casting solution resulted in formation of the membranes with superior PWF and higher rejection of amoxicillin and ceftriaxone in comparison with the pure PES membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omidvar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soltanieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mahmoud
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saljoughi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Quchan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Quchan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moarefian
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Quchan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Quchan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saffaran
keywords: Brij58; Hydrophilicity; Nanofiltration; Pharmaceuticals; Polyethersulfone