Application of UV irradiation enhanced by CuS photosensitive nanoparticles to mitigate polysulfone membrane fouling

Authors

Zohreh Zabihi, Maryam Homayoonfal, Fatemeh Davar

Publication date

2020/3/1

Journal

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry

Volume

390

Pages

112304

Publisher

Elsevier

Description

In this research, enhanced ultraviolet (UV) irradiation was used to offer antifouling properties to the surface of polysulfone (PSf) membranes. For this purpose, a thin layer of polyacrylic acid (PAA) was grafted to the membrane surface through UV irradiation in order to synthesize PAA/PSf membrane. Aiming to enhance the performance of UV irradiation, copper sulfide (CuS) and acrylic acid coated copper sulfide (AA©CuS) nanoparticles were embedded in the acrylic acid thin layer where CuS/PAA/PSf and AA©CuS/PAA/PSf membranes were fabricated. Presence of CuS and AA©CuS enhanced the wavelength of excitability of polysulfone from 254 to 322 and 354 nm, respectively. Thus, UV irradiation for 165 min on the surface of PSf membrane caused heightened degree of grafting from 16 % for PAA/PSf to 19 and 46 % for CuS/PAA/PSf and AA©CuS/PAA/PSf membranes, respectively. UV Irradiation for 240 min …