Developing innovative Filtration Membranes based on SiO2/TiO2/Cdot(N) for wastewater treatment.

Abstract

Abstract This work describes a new, cost-effective modified filtration membrane for wastewater treatment containing different substances. The filtration membrane comprises a nylon substrate modified by SiO2/TiO2/Cdot(N) nanostructures in situ. SiO2/TiO2/Cdot(N) nanostructures have been prepared using nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (Cdot(N)), electrochemically synthesized by oleylamine, which was also applied as reaction catalysts between titanium isopropoxide and silica source. FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, EDS, and HR-TEM characterized SiO2/TiO2/Cdot(N) nanostructures. The membrane operated as a rapid filtration tool and presented good sorbent capacity, 10 mg of methylene blue, 4.2 mg of methyl orange, and 17.3 mg of bisphenol A per gram of sorbent obtained by standard addition method. The waste removal capacities were calculated using UV spectroscopy at 275, 464, and 664 nm wavelengths. The filtration membrane composed of a nylon membrane substrate modified by SiO2/TiO2/Cdot(N) nanostructures presents an excellent performance in retaining this substance in a real water sample.