New Understanding of the Difference in Filtration Performance between Anatase and Rutile TiO(2) Nanoparticles through Blending into Ultrafiltration PSF Membranes

The blending of nanomaterials into a polymeric matrix is a method known for its ability, under certain circumstances, to lead to an improvement in membrane properties. TiO(2) nanoparticles have been used in membrane research for the last 20 years and have continuously shown promise in this field of research. Polysulfone (PSf) membranes were obtained through the phase inversion method, with different TiO(2) nanoparticle concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt.%) and two types of TiO(2) crystalline structure (anatase and rutile), via the addition of commercially available nanopowders. Research showed improvement in all studied properties. In particular, the 0.5 wt.% TiO(2) rutile membrane recorded an increase in permeability of 139.7% compared to the control membrane. In terms of overall performance, the best nanocomposite membrane demonstrated a performance index increase of 71.1% compared with the control membrane.