Abstract

MATHUMBA, Penny et al. Photocatalytic degradation of a basic dye in water by nanostructured HPEI/TiO₂ containing membranes. Water SA [online]. 2020, vol.46, n.3, pp.500-505. ISSN 1816-7950.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/wsa/2020.v46.i3.8660.

A photocatalytically active membrane was synthesized through the embedding of HPEI/TiO₂ nanocomposite in PES membrane for the removal of methyl orange (MO) dye from water. Membranes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray, atomic force microscopy, water contact angle measurements and water flux analysis. PES/HPEI/TiO₂ membranes showed improved hydrophilicity and were effective in the photodegradation of MO. The reaction rate for MO degradation was 11.6 x 10⁻³ min⁻¹, and the degradation was accompanied by the generation of sulphate ions as degradation by-products.

Keywords : hyperbranched polymers; methyl orange; phase inversion; polyethersulfone membranes; titanium dioxide nanoparticle.

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