The invention provides a polymer nanocomposite membrane that can efficiently filter out endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like BPA and oxybenzone from water. It uses a polymer matrix (polyethersulfone) embedded with copper sulfide nanoparticles grown on carboxylated graphene oxide sheets. These membranes offer excellent water permeability, enhanced mechanical and thermal properties, and superior fouling resistance. Tests show high removal efficiency of EDCs even from real lake water.
Figure 1. The flow of steps to prepare CuSG nanohybrid
This invention addresses the problem of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as BPA and oxybenzone, which are harmful pollutants found in water due to contamination from cosmetics, plastics, and agricultural runoff. These chemicals disrupt hormonal functions and pose serious risks to human and animal health. Traditional water filtration membranes often struggle to remove EDCs effectively due to their low water permeability and a tendency to foul easily.
- Improved Hydrophilicity: The membrane exhibits a reduced water contact angle of approximately 52.5°, indicating enhanced surface wettability. This promotes more efficient water flow through the membrane, contributing to higher permeability and reduced resistance.
- High Negative Zeta Potential: With a surface charge of around −30.9 mV, the membrane effectively repels negatively charged foulants. This electrostatic repulsion minimizes membrane fouling, thereby enhancing operational longevity and performance stability.
- Enhanced Mechanical Strength: The membrane demonstrates excellent structural integrity with a Young’s modulus of up to ~520 MPa, ensuring durability and resistance to physical stress during filtration processes.
- Superior Thermal Stability: The material maintains structural integrity at high temperatures, with thermal degradation onset beyond 500°C, making it suitable for demanding industrial and environmental applications.
- High Permeability and Effective Endocrine Disrupting Compound (EDC) Rejection: The membrane achieves a water permeability of ~528 mL/m2/h/mmHg, along with ~95–98% rejection of target EDCs, ensuring both efficient throughput and high contaminant removal efficiency.
The membranes were fabricated by dispersing CuSG nanohybrid in a solvent, blending it with polymer, and spinning it into hollow fibers using a phase inversion process. Variants were created with increasing nanohybrid content (0.25%, 0.50%, 1.00%), with CSGP-100 (1.00%) showing the best results. Prototypes were tested using model EDC-contaminated water and real lake water, and characterized using SEM, FTIR, AFM, and mechanical testing.
It is available for demonstration at the pilot plant level.
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In addition to their strong filtration performance, the membranes offer operational advantages such as longer lifespan and reduced maintenance due to their resistance to fouling. By effectively removing hazardous chemicals from water, the technology contributes to improved public health, environmental protection, and safer water resources. Furthermore, its durable design reduces the frequency of membrane replacement, which can lower overall treatment costs and waste generation.
- Urban and Rural Drinking Water Treatment: For municipalities and decentralized systems aiming to provide clean, safe drinking water in disaster relief or remote areas
- Industrial Wastewater Treatment: Applicable in industries releasing EDCs such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and agrochemicals
- Environmental Remediation Units: Used in ecological restoration projects and to clean up polluted water bodies affected by chemical contamination
- Hospital and Laboratory Effluent Treatment: Suitable for treatment of specialized wastewater containing hormones, drugs, and chemical residues
- Research and Pilot-Scale Filtration Systems: Useful in experimental setups and academic R&D for testing advanced water purification technologies
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: For in-process separation or post-process wastewater management in facilities using organic chemicals and additives
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