Photocatalytic degradation of a basic dye in water by nanostructured HPEI/TiO2 containing membranes

Abstract

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