Photocatalytic degradation of industrial dye using hybrid filler impregnated poly-sulfone membrane and optimizing the catalytic performance using Box-Behnken design

Abstract

Mixed Matrix Membranes have gained significant attention over the past few years due to their diverse appli-cations, unique hybrid inorganic filler and polymeric properties. In this article, the impregnation of nano-hybrid filler (polyoxometalates (-POMs) encapsulated into the metal-organic framework (MOF) -PMOF) on the polysulfone membrane (-PSF) was done, resulting in a mix matrix membrane (-PMOF@PSF). The developed structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermog-ravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopes (TEM). The results confirmed that the nano-hybrid filler was successfully fabricated on the surface of PSF. Different loading ratios of nano-hybrid filler (5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) were used for impregnation. The study's objective was to enhance catalytic performance using optimization curves designed using a three-level Box-Behnken Design (BBD) simulation. The photodegradation of Methylene Blue (similar to MB) was studied against PMOF@PSF30% and was found to perform optimally when the concentration of catalyst, time of degradation, and temperature were 0.05-0.15 gm, 40-120 min, and 30-70 degrees C respectively. These experiments were replicated 15 times, and obtained results were further processed using a two-quadratic polynomial model to develop response surface methodology (RSM), which allowed for a functional relationship between the decolorization and experimental parameters. The optimal performance of the reaction mixture was calculated to be 0.15 gm for concentration, 70 degrees C for temperature, with an 80 min reaction time. Under these optimal conditions, the pre-dicted decolorization of MB was 98.09%. Regression analysis with R2 > 0.99 verified the fit of experimental results with predicted values. The PMOF@PSF PSF30% demonstrated excellent reusability as its dye degradation properties were significantly unaffected after ten cycles.