Fabrication and optimization of a new polyethersulfone membrane integrated with powder activated carbon for landfill leachate treatment

A wide range of highly concentrated non-biodegradable organics have existed in stabilized landfill leachate, which is highly dangerous to the environment. Although various purification processes have been invented for leachate treatment, yet advanced membrane filtration is still one of the most environmentally friendly processes for stabilized leachate treatment. Herein, a new polymeric membrane was fabricated through the integration of powder activated carbon (PAC) on the surface of polyethersulfone (PES) using the phase inversion technique. The newly fabricated membrane was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The synthesized membrane was successfully applied as a cross-flow ring towards the filtration of stabilized leachate. The results proposed that the filtration efficiency of the membrane was highly boosted after the incorporation of PAC. The optimal removal efficiencies of the proposed membrane (1.0 wt.% PAC, 14.9 wt.% PES) was 22%, 48.71% and 35.34% for NH3 –N, colour and chemical oxygen demand, respectively. Transmembrane pressure and water flux values were 0.67 bar and 61 L m–2, respectively, using optimized conditions, which were again improved after the PAC incorporation. Besides, the membrane performances in terms of contaminant elimination, water permeation and numerous morphologi-cal characterizations were systematically investigated. Regardless of the partial accomplishments, which could further be enhanced through the utilization of hydrophilic additives, the current report offers a novel roadmap to fabricate PES-PAC membranes and their optimization using the RSM tool.