# Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of NiMOF@MGO-Modified Polysulfone Membranes for Heavy Metal Removal from Wastewater

## TL;DR

This study develops a new membrane material using NiMOF@MGO to improve water purification by removing heavy metals and resisting fouling.

## Contribution

The novel NiMOF@MGO-modified polysulfone membrane shows enhanced hydrophilicity, flux, and antifouling properties for water treatment.

## Key findings

- PMM-0.2 membrane achieved the highest water flux of 117.85 L/m2·h.
- PMM-0.1 membrane rejected 95.97% Pb2+ and 95.92% Cu2+ at pH 6.
- PMM-0.2 showed 85.97% flux recovery, indicating strong antifouling performance.

## Abstract

This work presents a detailed analysis of polysulfone (PSF) based mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) modified with NiMOF@MGO for water purification. Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized and incorporated into the NiMOF@GO framework, with successful formation confirmed by FT-IR, XRD, BET, TGA, and SEM analyses. Membranes were prepared via phase inversion and modified with varying NiMOF@MGO contents. SEM, AFM, and contact angle analyses demonstrated enhanced membrane hydrophilicity with increasing MOF concentration, reducing the contact angle from 59.74° (0.05 wt%) to 49.70° (0.2 wt%). The highest flux of 117.85 L/m2·h was observed for the PMM-0.2 membrane. Heavy metal removal was most efficient at pH 6, with the PMM-0.1 membrane achieving 95.97% and 95.92% rejection for Pb2+ and Cu2+, respectively. In oil-water separation, PMM-0.1 exhibited optimal performance, with a water flux of 45.84 L/m2·h. Antifouling tests showed the PMM-0.2 membrane had the highest flux recovery of 85.97%, indicating improved fouling resistance. Overall, incorporation of NiMOF@MGO significantly enhanced membrane hydrophilicity, flux, selectivity and antifouling performance, demonstrating its potential for advanced water purification applications.