Incorporating nanomaterials into membranes will enhance wastewater treatment efficiency with their unique characteristics

such as higher permeability

thermal stability

surface roughness

hydrophilicity

and fouling control. In this study

the surface-modified boron nitride with phosphoric acid 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate ester (PA/BN) was grafted with polyethylene glycol (PEG)

via

conventional grafting. The PEG grafted PA/BN (PEG-g-PA/BN) melt blended with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resin by using an internal mixer at different mass percentages (100% PVDF (PVDF)

3% PEG-g-PA/BN + 97% PVDF (97:3 BN)

5% PEG-g-PA/BN + 95% PVDF (95:5 BN)

7% PEG-g-PA/BN + 93% PVDF (93:7 BN)

and 7% PEG-g-PA/BNNS + 93% PVDF (93:7 BNNS). Phase inversion technique was used to cast the blended mixture into a thin membrane. The prepared membranes were analyzed with different characterization techniques to determine chemical composition

crystallinity

morphology

and thermal properties. The prepared composite membrane was evaluated in terms of water permeability

anti-fouling resistance

and solute rejection efficiency with deionized water

bovine serum albumin

and arsenic solution as well. PVDF membranes show high water flux and porosity. The water flux and porosity of the blends decrease as the percentage of PEG-g-PA/BN increases. However

the highest removal capacity for arsenic was observed at 93:7 BN. The adsorption of arsenic ions takes place

via

complexation with PA/BN in the PVDF matrix. This was confirmed with field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses.