Fabrication of novel Zn (II)-imidazole based mixed matrix membranes for heavy metal removals from drinking water
Zahid Ali, A. Naz, N U Haq, Arif Nazir, Aisha Munawar, Asim Laeeq Khan, Zainab Mufarreh Elqahtani, Norah Alwadai, Umer Younas, Munawar Iqbal
Abstract
Abstract Heavy metals presence in the potable water is a terrible dilemma notably for emergent countries and could be carcinogenic. Currently, interfacial polymerization (IP) was applied for the production of thin film nanocomposite forward osmosis (TFN-FO) membrane using polyacrylonitrile support. For this purpose, Zn (II)-imidazole metal Organic framework (MOF) was employed as a nanofiller into polymeric membranes this modification was found useful for the removal of heavy metals. Different characterization techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were used for the assessment of morphology, elemental arrangement, functional groups and crystalline nature of the prepared FO membrane. It was observed that synthesized Zn-MOF based FO membrane displays high water flux by increasing the number of pores in the membrane. Additionally, this particular FO membrane was custom-made for lower reverse solute flux and concentration polarization. This ensures minimum withdrawal of salt from the draw solution (DS) to the feed solution (FS). So, the prepared Zn-MOF based FO membrane produce synergistic outcomes for the removal of metals and this strategy could possibly be used as novel way for removal of toxic pollutants.