Tailoring the Performance of a Composite PEI Nanofiltration Membrane via Incorporating Activated PDA for Efficient Dye Sieving and Salt Separation

Efficient dye sieving and salt separation can facilitate the recycling of valuable resources in textile wastewater treatment. This study focuses on developing a high-performance nanofiltration membrane (NF) by co-depositing activated polydopamine (O-PDA), oxidized with KMnO<sub>4</sub>,...

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Main Authors: Wanting Li, Jiaye Liu, Weifu Wang, Shichun Chen, Fengwei Jia, Xiang Li, Ying Zhao, Wenjuan Zhang, Dan Song, Jun Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Membranes
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/3/75
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author Wanting Li
Jiaye Liu
Weifu Wang
Shichun Chen
Fengwei Jia
Xiang Li
Ying Zhao
Wenjuan Zhang
Dan Song
Jun Ma
author_facet Wanting Li
Jiaye Liu
Weifu Wang
Shichun Chen
Fengwei Jia
Xiang Li
Ying Zhao
Wenjuan Zhang
Dan Song
Jun Ma
author_sort Wanting Li
collection DOAJ
description Efficient dye sieving and salt separation can facilitate the recycling of valuable resources in textile wastewater treatment. This study focuses on developing a high-performance nanofiltration membrane (NF) by co-depositing activated polydopamine (O-PDA), oxidized with KMnO<sub>4</sub>, and polyethyleneimine (PEI) onto a polysulfone support membrane (PSF), thereby enabling effective dye sieving and salt separation. Due to the high hydrophilicity of PDA and the formation of high molecular polymers after oxidation, it was anticipated that O-PDA would crosslink the PEI layer, providing rapid permeating channels. Filtration experiments demonstrated that the formation of O-PDA significantly enhanced the salt retention rate of nanofiltration membranes, achieving a nearly threefold increase in NaCl retention from 15% to 45.7%. It was observed that the retention performance of O-PDA could be adjusted by controlling its loading or oxidation level. Furthermore, despite a notable reduction in permeability, the dye removal efficiency of the O-PDA/PEI membrane increased substantially to 99.5%. Long-term filtration experiments also confirmed both the stability and anti-fouling properties of this membrane design. Clearly, owing to its excellent operational stability and anti-fouling characteristics, the O-PDA/PEI membrane exhibits great potential for applications in dye sieving and salt separation.
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spelling doaj-art-1aa3dd5d56664ebe9cc5a7d4ab2abc202025-08-20T02:42:22ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752025-03-011537510.3390/membranes15030075Tailoring the Performance of a Composite PEI Nanofiltration Membrane via Incorporating Activated PDA for Efficient Dye Sieving and Salt SeparationWanting Li0Jiaye Liu1Weifu Wang2Shichun Chen3Fengwei Jia4Xiang Li5Ying Zhao6Wenjuan Zhang7Dan Song8Jun Ma9Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, ChinaPetroChina Harbin Petrochemical Company, Harbin 150056, ChinaSchool of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai 264209, ChinaSchool of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai 264209, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, ChinaEfficient dye sieving and salt separation can facilitate the recycling of valuable resources in textile wastewater treatment. This study focuses on developing a high-performance nanofiltration membrane (NF) by co-depositing activated polydopamine (O-PDA), oxidized with KMnO<sub>4</sub>, and polyethyleneimine (PEI) onto a polysulfone support membrane (PSF), thereby enabling effective dye sieving and salt separation. Due to the high hydrophilicity of PDA and the formation of high molecular polymers after oxidation, it was anticipated that O-PDA would crosslink the PEI layer, providing rapid permeating channels. Filtration experiments demonstrated that the formation of O-PDA significantly enhanced the salt retention rate of nanofiltration membranes, achieving a nearly threefold increase in NaCl retention from 15% to 45.7%. It was observed that the retention performance of O-PDA could be adjusted by controlling its loading or oxidation level. Furthermore, despite a notable reduction in permeability, the dye removal efficiency of the O-PDA/PEI membrane increased substantially to 99.5%. Long-term filtration experiments also confirmed both the stability and anti-fouling properties of this membrane design. Clearly, owing to its excellent operational stability and anti-fouling characteristics, the O-PDA/PEI membrane exhibits great potential for applications in dye sieving and salt separation.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/3/75activated polydopamineKMnO<sub>4</sub> oxidationpolyethyleniminenanofiltration membranesdye/salt separation
spellingShingle Wanting Li
Jiaye Liu
Weifu Wang
Shichun Chen
Fengwei Jia
Xiang Li
Ying Zhao
Wenjuan Zhang
Dan Song
Jun Ma
Tailoring the Performance of a Composite PEI Nanofiltration Membrane via Incorporating Activated PDA for Efficient Dye Sieving and Salt Separation
Membranes
activated polydopamine
KMnO<sub>4</sub> oxidation
polyethylenimine
nanofiltration membranes
dye/salt separation
title Tailoring the Performance of a Composite PEI Nanofiltration Membrane via Incorporating Activated PDA for Efficient Dye Sieving and Salt Separation
title_full Tailoring the Performance of a Composite PEI Nanofiltration Membrane via Incorporating Activated PDA for Efficient Dye Sieving and Salt Separation
title_fullStr Tailoring the Performance of a Composite PEI Nanofiltration Membrane via Incorporating Activated PDA for Efficient Dye Sieving and Salt Separation
title_full_unstemmed Tailoring the Performance of a Composite PEI Nanofiltration Membrane via Incorporating Activated PDA for Efficient Dye Sieving and Salt Separation
title_short Tailoring the Performance of a Composite PEI Nanofiltration Membrane via Incorporating Activated PDA for Efficient Dye Sieving and Salt Separation
title_sort tailoring the performance of a composite pei nanofiltration membrane via incorporating activated pda for efficient dye sieving and salt separation
topic activated polydopamine
KMnO<sub>4</sub> oxidation
polyethylenimine
nanofiltration membranes
dye/salt separation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/3/75
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