الفهرس 
Introduction and Aim of the workOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Membranes are employed in various applications, including pharmaceutical waste separation, due to their operability, high removal capacity, and cost-effectiveness. However, membrane fouling is an influential factor that reduces their efficiency. The addition of hydrophilic inorganic components has been shown to reduce membrane fouling. The present work focuses on manganese (MnO2, Mn2O3) nanoparticles (NP) in polysulfone (PSF) casting solutions to prepare new mixed-matrix membranes for separating diclofenac (DCF) sodium and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) from an aqueous solution. The membranes were characterized using microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, thermogravimetric analysis, and by elucidating the internal membrane-specific area, contact angle, and mechanical properties. The synthesized NP was characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The diclofenac sodium ascorbic acid concentration in the feed and filtrate solutions was measured by UV spectrophotometer at 275 and 260 nm, respectively. The concentrations of DCF sodium measured in the feed and filtrate solutions showed that the addition of Mn2O3 nanoparticles in a flat sheet nanofiltration membrane and pilot scale nanofiltration unit provided the highest permeate flux and good pharmaceutical rejection. The prepared membrane (blended, casted, washed, rolled and cut to desired shape) can be used in several industrial applications. Mechanical testing indicated higher tensile strength when embedding MnO2 NP in the PSF membrane matrix. Contact angle measurements showed an improvement in surface hydrophilicity when blending the PSF casting solution with MnO2 NP. The fouling test indicated that the PSF/Mn2O3 membrane provided the best antifouling properties. Thus, the addition of nanoparticles enhances the porosity, hydrophilicity, water flux, and antifouling characteristics of fabricated membranes.