Enhanced zeolite-polysulfone membranes for regenerable and antifouling dye removal

The growing environmental contamination from industrial dyes calls for more efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment technologies. This study presents a sustainble approach by developing polysulfone-based hybrid membranes, modified with natural zeolite which is a low-cost, eco-friendly material, at varying concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, and 3 wt%) using the phase inversion process. The use of zeolite as both a porogen and a hydrophilic agent is a key innovation that significantly enhances membrane performance. The membranes were characterized using SEM, TGA, and contact angle measurements, and their pure water permeability was tested. The membrane with 3 wt% zeolite achieved an outstanding pure water flux (PWF) of 151.5 L m-2 h-1 at 4 bar, marking a 30-fold improvement over unmodified polysulfone membranes. Performance tests with methylene blue (MB) and orange G dyes revealed that the optimized membrane (PSf/Z 3%) exhibited a flux recovery ratio (FRR%) of 86.31% and a 99.6% rejection rate for MB. This study not only demonstrates a substantial advancement in filtration performance but also highlights the environmental and cost benefits of using natural zeolite. By offering a scalable, efficient, and sustainable solution for dye removal, this research provides a practical approach to mitigating industrial pollution and reducing treatment costs.