Application of Nanocomposite Membrane Fibre Blended with CoFe2O4 Nanoparticles for the Sequestration of Bisphenol S from Aqueous Solution: Fouling and Permeability Studies

The environmental threat posed by plastic waste, particularly Bisphenol S (BPS), necessitates innovative solutions for water treatment. This study presents the development and characterization of a novel hollow fibre nanocomposite membrane, augmented with cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles, for the effective removal of BPS from aqueous solutions. The CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized using a sol-gel auto-combustion method and incorporated into a PVDF-PEG membrane matrix. Characterization of the optimized M4 membrane (1.25wt% CoFe2O4) by SEM, TEM, FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X‑ray diffraction confirmed uniform embedding of 8-12nm spinel crystallites within a nano‑rough, hydroxylated PVDF‑PEG matrix, yielding a phase‑pure structure with enhanced hydrophilicity. The fabricated membranes were systematically characterized for their hydrophilicity, surface charge, porosity, morphological structure, and thermal stability. Performance evaluations revealed that the nanocomposite membrane (M4) containing 1.25wt% CoFe2O4 nanoparticles exhibited superior properties, including a highly negative zeta potential of -47.3mV, a reduced contact angle of 49.3°, and an impressive BPS removal efficiency of 92.1%. Also, the membrane exhibited a high-water permeability flux of 171.53L/m²·h and demonstrated excellent antifouling performance, with a flux recovery ratio of 80.57% after multiple filtration cycles. The integration of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles significantly enhances the membrane's performance, presenting a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for mitigating BPS pollution in water sources. This study demonstrates the potential of nanoparticle-modified membranes in advancing water treatment technologies to address emerging environmental contaminants.