Effective fluorine removal using mixed matrix membrane based on polysulfone: adsorption performance and diffusion behavior

Abstract

Abstract Fluorine is one of the essential trace elements for human life activities, but excessive intake of fluoride poses a great risk to people's health. In this paper, a series of mixed matrix membrane (MMM)-based polysulfone for removing fluoride were prepared by phase inversion, and their properties, adsorption capacity, adsorption isotherms, adsorption kinetics of fluoride ions, and mechanism were all investigated. The results confirmed that the MMM contained a large number of hydroxyl and aluminum functional groups due to resin being added. The MMM exhibited the best fluorine ion adsorption capacity of 2.502 mg/g at a pH of 6 with the initial concentration of 6 mg/L. As well, adsorption kinetics of fluorine ion on MMM followed the pseudo-second-order model, while the adsorption behavior of fluorine ion on MMM was well simulated by the Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption capacity of MMM remained stable after six cycles and the regeneration efficiency was still above 80%, resulting in a long-term stability adequate for fluorine ion removal. Complexation and ion exchange played a key role in the fluorine ion adsorption of MMM. These results indicated the MMM as novel type of absorbent had an excellent capacity for removing fluoride.