Revolutionizing water treatment: Enhanced flux and selectivity in polyethersulfone mixed matrix membrane through magnetic CuO-functionalized Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles for synthetic oily produced water remediation

In this research, we present a novel CuO@Fe₃O₄/PES nanocomposite membrane designed to address the complex challenge of separating oil from synthetic oily produced water. This exceptional membrane demonstrates remarkable separation capabilities, achieving an impressive oil rejection rate of 97.5 % and an exceptionally high permeate flux of 0.095 L/m²·h, surpassing traditional pure PES membranes. Our dedicated efforts to optimize membrane efficiency involved a thorough exploration of critical parameters. The peak performance was unequivocally achieved with a solution dosage of 60 mL, a solution concentration of 60 mg·L ^{− 1}, and a pump pressure of 1.5 bar, ensuring comprehensive optimization. Moreover, contact angle measurements revealed significantly improved hydrophilicity of the CuO@Fe₃O₄/PES membrane compared to the PES blank membrane. Additionally, SEM, XRD, and FTIR analyses provided valuable insights into the composition, morphology, and properties of the membrane. The outstanding performance of the membrane is attributed to the incorporation of CuO@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, which enhance surface area, permeability, mechanical strength, and catalytic emulsion decomposition. This innovative approach holds great promise for applications in treating oily produced water across diverse industries.