Characteristics of Polyethersulfone Membranes Modified by Silika and Nanocellulose Extracted from Biomass as Additives

Polyethersulfone membranes were fabricated using non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) with silica and nanocellulose additives extracted from rice husk ash and genjer ( Limnocharis flava ). N-methyl pyrrolidone served as the solvent. The study aimed to prepare membranes with diverse characteristics by incorporating various combinations of additives. Silica acted as a pore-forming agent, while nanocellulose enhanced membrane hydrophilicity. Characterization techniques included Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for functional group analysis, which revealed the presence of C-S, Si-O, and Si-O-Si vibrations in the membranes. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine the surface and cross-sectional structure of the membranes. To assess membrane performance, a flux test was conducted. The membrane containing 2% nanocellulose and 1% silica exhibited the highest flux value of 21.37 L/m².h, corresponding to a permeability of 21.37 L/m².h.bar. Based on these results, the membrane with 2% nanocellulose and 1% silica is considered optimal due to its superior performance.