title: Synthesis and performance of antifouling and self-cleaning polyethersulfone/graphene oxide composite membrane functionalized with photoactive semiconductor catalyst.
abstract: This study was performed to synthesize membranes of polyethersulfone (PES) blended with graphene oxide (GO) and PES blended with GO functionalized with photoactive semiconductor catalyst (TiO2and ZnO). The antifouling and self-cleaning properties of composite membranes were also investigated. The GO was prepared from natural graphite powder by oxidation method at low temperature. TiO2and ZnO nanopowders were synthesized by anhydrous sol-gel method. The surface of TiO2and ZnO nanopowders was modified by a surfactant (myristic acid) to obtain a homogeneously dispersed mixture in a solvent, and then GO was functionalized by loading with these metal oxide nanopowders. The PES membranes blended with GO and functionalized GO into the casting solution were prepared via phase inversion method and tested for their antifouling as well as self-cleaning properties. The composite membranes were synthesized as 14%wt. of PES polymer with three different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0%wt.) of GO, GO-TiO2, and GO-ZnO. The functionalization of membranes improved hydrophilicity property of membranes as compared to neat PES membrane. However, the lowest flux was obtained by functionalized membranes with GO-TiO2. The results showed that functionalized membranes demonstrated better self-cleaning property than neat PES membrane. Moreover, the flux recovery rate of functionalized membranes over five cycles was higher than that of neat membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Mersin University, Yenisehir, Mersin 33343, Turkey E-mail: nadirdizge@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nadir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dizge
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Mersin University, Yenisehir, Mersin 33343, Turkey E-mail: nadirdizge@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gonuldas
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Mersin University, Yenisehir, Mersin 33343, Turkey E-mail: nadirdizge@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yasin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozay
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Mersin University, Yenisehir, Mersin 33343, Turkey E-mail: nadirdizge@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ates
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology, Research and Application Center, Mersin University, Mersin 33343, Turkey; Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Mersin University, Mersin 33480, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kasim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ocakoglu
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology, Research and Application Center, Mersin University, Mersin 33343, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ersan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harputlu
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology, Research and Application Center, Mersin University, Mersin 33343, Turkey; Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Toros University, Mersin 33140, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saadet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yildirimcan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Mersin University, Yenisehir, Mersin 33343, Turkey E-mail: nadirdizge@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Unyayar
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006108:Graphite / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010087:Oxides; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012666:Semiconductors; D012997:Solvents; D013450:Sulfones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010087:Oxides; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents; D013450:Sulfones; C022840:polyether sulfone; D006108:Graphite