Fabrication of Polyethersulfone (PES) Membrane Incorporated with Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) Nanoparticles in Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Backed by the evolution in the nanotechnology field, membrane modified with nanoparticles as an additive has become increasingly prominent nowadays. The enormous potential of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalyst in wastewater treatment has been disclosed extensively. In this study, 4 Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes with different concentration of g-C3N4nanoparticles as additive were fabricated and their performances were investigated. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the membrane top surface layer was getting denser with the higher g-C3N4nanoparticles concentration which subsequently decreased the membrane mean pore size, porosity and flux. However the membrane with higher additive concentration was demonstrated a better improvement in anti-fouling properties where the flux recovery ratio (FRR) of the membranes showed an uptrend movement from 23.43% (membrane without additive) to 64.64% (membrane with 6 wt.% of additive). The enhancement of COD and colour removal rate from 61.50 % to 66.50 % and 78.75 % to 83.75 % was also observed in this study where the finding has signified the increased g-C3N4 nanoparticles concentration was constructive in PES membrane modification.