Removal of carbamazepine from water using mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) based on polyethersulfone and mesomaterials

The presence of recalcitrant compounds in aquatic systems, such as carbamazepine (CBZ), has intensified due to the wastewater discharge increase. This study aimed to evaluate the PES/mesoparticles-based MMM transport properties and their CBZ adsorption capacities in aqueous solutions with different physicochemical character-istics using a statistical design method. MMMs were synthesized via the phase inversion method using poly-ethersulfone as a polymeric matrix and mesoparticles as filler materials (MCM-41, NH2-MCM-41, or SH-MCM-41). The MMMs were characterized by ATR-FTIR, DSC, SEM-EDS, TGA, and XRD. CBZ quantification was per-formed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography. The preliminary adsorption study showed that PES/SH-MCM-41-based MMMs present the highest potential for CBZ adsorption. The multivariate design results indi-cate that three independent variables (contact time, initial CBZ concentration, and the amount of SH-MCM-41 incorporated in MMM) significantly influence the MMM adsorption capacity, while pH does not affect it. Water permeability tests in MMMs showed a correlation between the H2O permeability and the porosity of the synthesized membranes. PES/SH-MCM-41-based MMM showed high porosity and good ability to remove CBZ from water, regardless of the pH of the aqueous solutions.