Mirna Rahmah Lubis, Cut Meurah Rosnelly, Umi Fathanah, Muchlis
The increasing demand for clean water is challenged by declining quality because of contaminants like humic acid, which can form carcinogenic byproducts. Membrane filtration is an effective removal method, but polyethersulfone (PES) membranes suffer from hydrophobicity-induced fouling, leading to lower water permeability and increased adsorption of humic acid onto the membrane surface. This study enhances PES membranes by incorporating polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and silica (Si), which improve hydrophilicity and reduce organic fouling by minimizing humic acid adhesion. The results demonstrated that among the tested variations, PES membranes with PVP/Si 3% exhibited the highest permeability (87.78 L/m2 ∙ h), humic acid rejection (77.24%), and antifouling performance (FRR = 74.63%). These findings provide insights into optimizing ultrafiltration membranes for enhanced organic fouling resistance and long-term stability. © 2025, Department of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.
Chemical Engineering Department, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, 23111, Indonesia; Process Technology Laboratory, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, 23111, Indonesia; Mining Engineering Study Program, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, 23111, Indonesia
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