First synthesis of high-performance PVDF/PVA/MXene nanocomposite membrane with pioneering application in arsenic [As(V)] removal from contaminated water

This study developed high-performance PVDF/PVA/MXene nanocomposite membranes via strategic ternary blending to exploit synergistic hydrophilicity, dispersion stability, and charge enhancement for pioneering arsenate [As(V)] removal. The successful synthesis of MXene from the Ti₃AlC₂ MAX phase was confirmed by SEM and EDX analyses. The incorporation of MXene fundamentally improved key membrane properties in a concentration-dependent manner (0–2 wt%). The optimal membrane with 1.5 wt% MXene (MX3) achieved a peak porosity of 58.4 % and superior hydrophilicity, which directly resulted in a high pure water flux of 51.3 L/m 2 h. Furthermore, MXene imparted a strong negative surface charge, increasing the zeta potential to −28.8 mV. This enhanced negative charge played a dual role : it significantly improved antifouling performance, yielding an 83.7 % flux recovery ratio (FRR) by electrostatically repelling bovine serum albumin (BSA), and it was the primary mechanism for the dramatic increase in arsenic rejection from a mere 4 % (pristine membrane) to 89 %. The high rejection is attributed to the synergistic effect of electrostatic repulsion against anionic arsenic species and the adsorption capacity of MXene. However, excessive MXene loading (2 wt%) induced agglomeration, which reduced porosity and slightly diminished rejection to 87 %, highlighting the critical importance of optimizing nanoparticle concentration. The results demonstrate that MXene integration is a powerful strategy for creating multifunctional membranes that combine high water flux, strong antifouling properties, and exceptional heavy metal removal efficiency. • First-ever synthesis of PVDF/PVA/MXene nanocomposite membrane for arsenic removal. • Achieves 89 % As(V) rejection with high pure water flux (55.6 L/m 2 h). • MXene (1.5 wt%) enhances antifouling (83.7 % FRR) via electrostatic repulsion (ζ = −28.8 mV). • Excessive MXene (2 wt%) causes agglomeration, reducing porosity (41.1 %) and performance. • Introduces a novel, scalable solution for heavy metal-contaminated water treatment.