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To our knowledge, this study was carried out because there is no other study using Ti 2 AlN MAX phase material as an inorganic additive to improve the performance of the cellulose acetate (CA) membrane. In this research, the effect of titanium aluminum nitride (Ti 2 AlN) MAX phase on the performance of CA polymeric membrane was investigated. In the first step, the Ti 2 AlN MAX phase was synthesized via the reactive sintering method and characterized. The Successful synthesis of the MAX phase with high purity in the hexagonal crystalline structure was confirmed with the XRD pattern. The prepared MAX phase was used as a hydrophilic inorganic additive to improve the performance of the CA membrane. An improvement in hydrophilicity of the CA membranes was observed by incorporating the MAX phase into the matrix of membranes. The nanocomposite membrane containing optimum content of MAX phase (0.75 wt%) showed a threefold increase in permeability during filtration of pure water and dye solutions. In addition, the optimum nanocomposite membrane exhibited an improved flux recovery ratio of 92.7 % with a high removal efficiency of 70.7 % for reactive black 5, 93.5 % for reactive red 120, and >98 % for bovine serum albumin. Finally, the rejection of different salts was investigated, and the optimum nanocomposite showed high rejection for lead ions (97 %) with moderate rejection for Na 2 SO 4 (>55 %) and NaCl (>30 %). The results of this research demonstrated the high potential of MAX phase-based materials for improving polymeric membranes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research introduces a practicable and straightforward procedure for improving separation performance by blending 2D nanocomposite of functionalized hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets/graphene oxide/silver (FBN-GO-Ag) polyethersulfone (PES) membrane. The objective of fabricating such membrane was to enhance the permeability, antifouling and antibacterial property, separation ability, and mechanical strength. The FBN-GO-Ag nanocomposite was synthesized, characterized, and blended at different constituent concentrations in casting solutions of the membranes. Physicochemical characterization illustrated approximately 21% and 22% increment of hydrophilicity and porosity of the modified membrane with 1 wt% FBN-GO-Ag, respectively. Meanwhile, the addition of 1 wt% FBN-GO-Ag led to an increase of 40% in permeability (80 L/m2 h bar) besides the dye removal and fouling resistance improvement compared to the unfilled membrane. Furthermore, PES membrane containing 1 wt% FBN-GO-Ag exhibited 88.9% and 77.7% rejection of reactive black 5 and reactive red 120, respectively, which is associated with the enhancement of negative surface charge of the membranes. Due to the inherent antibacterial properties of all three combined nanomaterials, the prepared nanocomposite membrane showed excellent antibacterial performance. [Display omitted] • FBN-GO-Ag/PES nanocomposite membrane was fabricated via phase inversion procedure. • Membrane hydrophilicity and flux was increased by adding FBN-GO-Ag. • 1 wt% FBN-GO-Ag membrane showed the maximum water (159 LMH) and BSA solution flux. • Adding FBN-GO-Ag improved antibacterial and antifouling properties of membranes. • 0.5 wt% FBN-GO-Ag nanocomposite membrane showed the maximum FRR (83.6%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]