Hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)/polysulfone composite membranes for Cd(II) removal from water

A composite membrane composed of hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) (HYPAM) and polysulfone (PSf) was successfully prepared to enable the removal of heavy metal ions from contaminated aqueous media. HYPAM was prepared by a one-pot reaction followed by modification with palmitoyl chloride, which included a long aliphatic chain that improved the compatibility with the hydrophobic PSf. The dendritic chelating agent HYPAM was incorporated into PSf via a phase inversion process to produce a HYPAM/PSf membrane. The resulting membrane was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The binding capacity of the HYPAM/PSf membrane toward heavy metal ions [Cd(II)] was investigated by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The efficiency of Cd(II) removal was 51% and resulted from metal ion complexation by a tertiary amine of HYPAM, and primary amine and amide groups grafted onto the PSf membrane surface. Moreover, the water permeability and the bovine serum albumin (BSA) retention of the HYPAM/PSf composite membrane were as high as 18 L m−2 h−1 at 1 bar and 85%, respectively. Under acidic conditions, the composite membrane recovered 86% of the Cd(II) ions. The findings of the present study highlight the potential for using HYPAM/PSf composite membranes as effective recyclable materials for the removal of heavy metal ions in the context of water treatment.