Development of CA-TiO2-incorporated thin-film nanocomposite forward osmosis membrane for enhanced water flux and salt rejection

Low access to electricity is a significant problem in small and distant areas, where power intensive treatment systems like reverse osmosis can complicate handling requirements. In order mitigate the energy requirements such forward (FO) an advance option desalinate provide potable water cost effectively. this study, cellulose acetate (CA) was selected as cheap natural green polymer along with nanoscale titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles different loadings (0.5, 1, 1.5 wt.%) polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) binder fabricate thin-film nanocomposite (TFNC) FO membranes. Various characterization techniques including XRD, EDS SEM confirmed capability of developed The results convey that use nanoparticles enhanced membrane’s surface morphology resulting smaller pore sizes, stable flux, low salt flux higher rejection. pure membranes dramatically increased compared commercial control CA membrane. TFNC CA-TiO2-1 (with 1% TiO2 loading) finest membrane average about 58.21 (L/m2.h), 16.28 (g/m2.h) 92.6% rejection 1 M NaCl draw solution (DS). This work revealed fabricated study are competitive current More importantly, they anticipated enable energy-efficient cost-effective FO-based desalination would help overcome global scarcity remote locations.