Author(s)

A. S. Al-Hobaib, Kh. M. Al-Sheetan, M. R. Shaik

Abstract

This paper deals with the synthesis and the characterization of reverse osmosis membranes reached by barium titanium oxide nanoparticles. A composite membrane containing BaTiO₃ nanoparticles (NPs) was prepared by the in situ interfacial polymerization (IP) process on porous polysulfone supports. Aqueous m-phenyl diamine (MPD) and organic trimesoyl chloride (TMC)-NPs mixture solutions were used in the IP process. BaTiO₃ NPs with a size between 100–200 nm were used as the fillers to fabricate nanocomposite membranes at concentrations ranging from 0.001% to 0.01% wt%. The membranes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM) and contact angle technique. Their performances were evaluated based on the water permeability and salt rejection. Results indicated that the BaTiO₃ nanoparticles are well dispersed in polyamide (PA) layer and improved membrane performance under optimal concentrations. By changing the content of filler (by introducing different concentration of BaTiO₃ nanoparticles inside the Reverse Osmosis Membrane (0.001% to 0.01% wt%), hydrophilicity and roughness of the composite membranes were increased. Notably, the permeate water flux increased from 26 to 42 L/m²h at BaTiO₃ concentration of 0.009% with the maintaining of sodium chloride (NaCl) high salt rejection of 98%. These results were obtained with initial NaCl concentration of 2000 ppm and under pressure of 225 psi. For the hydrophilicity, the contact angle was decreased from 73° to 24°.

Keywords

nano-BaTiO₃, reverse osmosis (RO) membrane modified, nanocomposite