Recycling of puffed polystyrene beads waste as a low‐cost antifouling ultrafiltration membrane for water purification

Abstract Currently, plastic waste, limited water resources, and water contamination are challenges of universal concerns. Recycling plastic waste as a membrane for water/wastewater treatment is of great significance from the perspective of environmental protection and safe drinking water supply. In this study, we used for the first time the puffed polystyrene beads waste (PPSBW) as a basic material for the fabrication of an ultrafiltration membrane and Pluronic F127 (PF127) as a plasticizer and hydrophilizing agent. Different ratios of PF127 were added to the casting solution, and the characteristics of the blank PPSBW and PF127‐modified membranes (PPSBW‐PF127) were evaluated in detail. The addition of PF127 increased the turbidity and viscosity of the casting solution, decreased the contact angle (increased the hydrophilicity), decreased the pure water flux, and increased the rejection of humic acid. The PPSBW membrane with 3 wt.% of PF127 showed the highest antifouling properties, the highest cleaning efficiency, and kept a satisfactory BSA and pure water flux for 4 runs. Overall, PF127 improved the hydrophilicity, organic matter separation, and enhanced the antifouling properties of the PPSBW‐derived membrane. Highlights Renew flow: Repurposing plastic waste as a UF membrane was successfully achieved. The PPSBW‐PF127 membrane was applied for wastewater treatment. Mechanical properties showed reasonable response by adding Pluronic F127. The PPSBW‐PF127 membrane demonstrated a significant rejection and permeability. The PPSBW‐PF127 membrane showed the highest antifouling and cleaning properties.