Modeling and Optimization of PPSU/Cu-BDC MMMs and PPSU/COOH-MWCNT@Cu-BDC MMMs for Enhanced Water Treatment Performance

Authors

• Ghaidaa M. Jaid, College of Chemical Engineering, University of Technology- Iraq, Alsinaa Street 52, 10066 Baghdad, IraqFollow
• Adnan A. AbdulRazak, College of Chemical Engineering, University of Technology- Iraq, Alsinaa Street 52, 10066 Baghdad, Iraq
• Sunarti Abdul Rahman, Faculty of Chemical & Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuhraya Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
• Muayad Al-Shaeli, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, Victoria University, P.O. Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia AND Paul Wurth Chair, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 2, Avenue de l'Universit\'e, Esch-sur-Alzette L-4365, Luxembourg
• Vahid Vatanpour, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Kharazmi University, Tehran, 15719-14911, IranFollow
• Qusay F. Alsalhy, College of Chemical Engineering, University of Technology- Iraq, Alsinaa Street 52, 10066 Baghdad, Iraq

Keywords

Metal–organic frameworks, Mixed matrix membranes, Response Surface Methodology (RSM), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Wastewater

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Water quality is increasingly of concern today due to industrial wastewater that contains heavy metals, particularly lead (Pb²⁺). What follows is a study aiming at adjusting operational variables affecting the performance of two types of mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) used for lead ion removal from simulated wastewater. The first employs polymer polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) by embedding copper-organic frameworks (Cu-BDC), and the second MMMs incorporate a novel COOH-MWCNT@Cu-BDC nanocomposite in the same polymer. MOF nanoparticles were added to the matrix to improve membrane performance, hydrophilicity, contact angle, porosity, and fouling resistance. Three operating parameters were modeled and optimized for their influence on processes such as flux and rejection used for membrane processing. Design-Expert®  software was applied with statistical approaches, which included Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), to improve the process at a larger scale. The effect of lead concentration, transmembrane pressure, and MOFs' concentration on membrane performance has been carefully studied.

Experimental validation under optimized conditions (2 ppm Pb²⁺, 3 bar, and 0.1 wt.% MOFs) confirmed the reliability of the developed models. The PPSU/COOH-MWCNT@Cu-BDC membrane exhibited superior performance, achieving a flux of 62.23 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹ and 99.17% Pb²⁺ rejection with a desirability of 0.926, outperforming the PPSU/Cu-BDC membrane (57 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹, 98.67% rejection, desirability 0.921). These findings demonstrate that integrating hybrid nanofillers with a statistically validated optimization framework offers a robust and scalable approach for high-efficiency lead removal from wastewater and thereby are suitable for the treatment of heavy-metal wastewater in many applications.

Recommended Citation

Jaid, Ghaidaa M.; AbdulRazak, Adnan A.; Rahman, Sunarti Abdul; Al-Shaeli, Muayad; Vatanpour, Vahid; and Alsalhy, Qusay F. (2026) "Modeling and Optimization of PPSU/Cu-BDC MMMs and PPSU/COOH-MWCNT@Cu-BDC MMMs for Enhanced Water Treatment Performance," Engineering and Technology Journal: Vol. 44: Iss. 3, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30684/2412-0758.1550

DOI

10.30684/2412-0758.1550

First Page

37

Last Page

61