Preparation and Characterization of PES Flat Sheet Membrane Embedded with PEG for Dye Filtration Application

Abstract

Membrane systems are widely regarded as a viable and sustainable method for removing colors from wastewater. The present work investigates the enhancement of prepared polyethersulfone polymer (PES) by embedding polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer using phase inversion method. The polymer content was maintained at 16 wt.%. The present study investigated the impact of adding the PEG on the permeability flow and percentage of removal of Malachite Green dyes. The content and structure of the membrane were characterized. The dye concentration in the solution was measured to be 10 ppm under a pressure of 6 bar and thickness of 150 . The examination involved the analysis of PEG polymers with varying weight percentages (5, 10, and 15 wt.%). The optimal concentration of PEG polymer in the ultrafiltration membrane is determined based on factors such as casting solution composition, mechanical properties of the membrane, microstructures, water flux, and dye removal. In this case, it has been found that a concentration of 5 wt.% of PEG is excellent for achieving the desired performance in ultrafiltration. The membrane exhibits a notable removal efficiency of 99.5% when operated at a pressure of 6 bar.