Fabrication and antibacterial properties of TFC membrane modified with cellulose/copper oxide nanoparticles for removal of cadmium from water

For achieving a desirable thin film composite (TFC) membrane, accurate selection of raw materials, appropriate process, and manufacturing method for a homogenous dispersion are obligatory. In this study, the manufacturing and characterization of the nanofiltration membranes modified with cellulose/copper oxide nanoparticles for removing cadmium from water were studied. Thin films of nanocomposite membranes were prepared with surface polymerization. The manufactured membranes with different concentrations of copper oxide (0.1, 0.5, and 1 weight percent) and nanocellulose (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 weight percent) were prepared. At the end of the process and passing for 60 minutes, the pure membrane’s water flux was 238 L/m2.hr. The minimum content of the passing water flux for membrane with 1% CuO and nanocellulose 0.1% (weight percent) was 148 L/m2 hr. The cadmium removal efficiency increases by increasing pH from 2 to 6 for nanocomposite membranes. By increasing pH from 6 to 8, removing cadmium decreases. The cadmium removal of 94% was obtained for the membrane modified with 0.1% CuO and 0.1% nanocellulose. According to the antibacterial test results, an important inhibitory ring is formed around the membrane with a concentration of 1% CuO, which shows this membrane has significant antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli.