Synthesis and characterization of polysulfone/graphene oxide nano-composite membranes for removal of bisphenol A from water.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an emerging contaminant of water resources that disrupts endocrine function. Attempts are continuing to develop cost-effective methods to remove BPA from water environments. The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize polysulfone/graphene oxide nano-composite membranes for removal of BPA from water. Three membranes were synthetized using phase inversion method: polysulfone membrane as PSF and two polysulfone/graphene oxide nano-composite membranes with graphene oxide (GO) weight ratios of 0.4 and 1.0% as PSF/GO 0.4% and PSF/GO 1.0%, respectively. The membrane characteristics including morphology, surface roughness, pore size, zeta potential and presence of functional groups were determined using field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, streaming potential, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. Inclusion of GO remarkably increased permeate flux of the membranes, so that pure water flux of PSF, PSF/GO 0.4% and PSF/GO 1.0% at operating pressure of 2 bar was determined 226, 449 and 512 L/m2 h, respectively. The membrane PSF/GO 0.4% with the most negative zeta potential (-10.46 mV) and the highest BPA removal efficiency was determined as the optimal membrane. The optimum conditions of input pressure, operating time, initial concentration of BPA, and pH for BPA removal efficiency by PSF/GO 0.4% were determined using surface response methodology to be 1.02 bar, 10.6 min, 7.5 mg/L, and 5.5, respectively. By optimizing the conditions of operating parameters, experimental BPA removal efficiency by PSF/GO 0.4% reached to as high as 93%.