Amoxicillin removal using polyethersulfone hollow fiber membranes blended with ZIF-L nanoflakes and cGO nanosheets: Improved flux and fouling-resistance

The removal of pharmaceutical compounds (e.g., amoxicillin) from water sources using membrane technology has gained significant attention. In this study, the removal of amoxicillin from the contaminated water was shown by polyethersulfone hollow fiber membranes (P HFMs) modified with zeolitic imidazolate framework-L (ZIF-L) nanoflakes and carboxylated graphene oxide (cGO) nanosheets. The presence of both the nanofillers in HFMs showed a positive effect on their characteristic properties, particularly hydrophilicity, surface functionality, and surface charge. These properties helped the composite membranes (P HFMs modified with ZIF-L nanoflakes and cGO nanosheets) in achieving remarkably high pure water flux (203.5 ± 5.4 L.m^-2. h^-1) and superior antifouling property (flux recovery ratio of 95.1 %). HFMs embedded with ZIF-L nanoflakes and cGO nanosheets showed the significantly high removal of amoxicillin (98.9 ± 0.8 % and 74.4 ± 1.6 % from the contaminated lab and lake waters, respectively). Therefore, HFMs modified with ZIF-L nanoflakes and cGO nanosheets are the potential membranes for the removal of amoxicillin from water.