Phosphoric Acid–Modified TiO 2 Nanoparticles as Functional Additives for High‐Performance Polyethersulfone Ultrafiltration Membranes

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Abstract
Polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration membranes were modified with phosphoric acid–functionalized TiO 2 nanoparticles (0–1 wt%) via phase inversion to enhance permeability, antifouling performance, and dye removal for wastewater treatment. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the successful modification and uniform incorporation of TiO 2 within the PES matrix. The membrane containing 0.5 wt% TiO 2 exhibited optimal performance, achieving the lowest contact angle (~39°), highest porosity (~65.5%), and maximum pure water flux (~292 L·m −2 ·h −1 ), compared to 204 L·m −2 ·h −1 for pristine PES. Rhodamine B rejection exceeded 85%, driven by electrostatic interactions between phosphate groups and cationic dye molecules. Fouling tests using bovine serum albumin revealed a high FRR (~92%) and reduced irreversible fouling. Excessive TiO 2 loading led to nanoparticle agglomeration and reduced permeability.

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