Fabrication and Characterization of Polyphenylsulfone/Titanium Oxide Nanocomposite Membranes for Oily Wastewater Treatment

Polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) membranes are critical for numerous applications, including water treatment, oil separation, energy production, electronic manufacturing, and biomedicine because of their low cost; regulated crystallinity; and chemical, thermal, and mechanical stability. Numerous studies have shown that altering the surface characteristics of PPSU membranes affects their stability and functionality. Nanocomposite membranes of PPSU (P0), PPSU-1%TiO2 (P1), and PPSU-2% TiO2 (P2) were prepared using the phase inversion method. Scanning electron microscopy and thermal analysis were performed to determine the contact angle and mechanical integrity of the proposed membranes. The results showed that the membranes contained channels of different diameters extending between 1.8 μm and 10.3 μm, which made them useful in removing oil. Thermal measurements showed that all of the PPSU membranes were stable at a temperature of not less than 240 °C, and had good mechanical properties, including tensile strength of 7.92 MPa and elongation of 0.217%. These properties enabled them to function in a harsh thermal environment. The experimental results of oil and water separation and BSA solution fouling on membrane P2 showed a 92.95% rejection rate and a flux recovery ratio of 82.56%, respectively, compared to P0 and P1.