High performance 2D molybdenum MXene polyphenylsulfone membranes for boosting water flux and efficient removal of humic acid, antibiotic and dyes from wastewater

Abstract

MXene, a leading two-dimensional material, is attracting scientists due to its rich polar surface termination and compatibility. Through the etching of an aluminum layer from Mo<inf>3</inf>AlC<inf>2</inf>, we have effectively produced molybdenum MXene Mo<inf>3</inf>C<inf>2</inf>T<inf>x</inf> (where T stands for polar moieties like –OH and ?F) and used it to fabricate a new Mo<inf>3</inf>C<inf>2</inf>T<inf>x</inf> embedded mixed matrix membrane. By the incorporation of highly hydrophilic Mo<inf>3</inf>C<inf>2</inf>T<inf>x</inf> MXene into polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) membrane, its water flux tremendously increased to a peak value of 290 L m-2h?1 and is higher than 300 % compared to pristine polyphenylsulfone membrane without Mo<inf>3</inf>C<inf>2</inf>T<inf>x</inf> MXene. Water contact angle study of Mo<inf>3</inf>C<inf>2</inf>T<inf>x</inf> MXene embedded membranes showed improvement in hydrophilicity with an increase in its loading. Mo<inf>3</inf>C<inf>2</inf>T<inf>x</inf>-PPSU membrane demonstrated appreciable antifouling nature and pollutant separation efficacy. The optimal membrane revealed 98.68 %, 96.7 %, 84.72 %, and 80.2 % removal of toxic contaminants like humic acid, RB 5 dye, RO 16 dye, and tetracycline antibiotic, respectively. This study offers a novel Mo<inf>3</inf>C<inf>2</inf>T<inf>x</inf> embedded polyphenylsulfone membrane for wastewater treatment that eliminates potentially harmful humic acid, antibiotics, and dyes. © 2025