Polysulfone psf

The membranes were obtained by applying a previously developed procedure [21 (link)]. Briefly, the polymer matrix (polysulfone–PSF, Sigma-Aldrich, Steinheim, Germany) and the filler (MCM-41-type mesoporous silica obtained from fly ash) were introduced in an oven under vacuum, at 353 K and 1.2 MPa, for 2 h, in order to remove the moisture. Subsequently, the MCM-41 material was immersed in chloroform (Sigma-Aldrich, Steinheim, Germany) and homogenized by ultrasonication (Elma S60H–Elma Schmidbauer GmbH, Singen, Germany), resulting in three concentrations: 15, 25, and 35 wt.% mesoporous silica in chloroform.
After the addition of polymer pellets, the homogeneity was assured through magnetic stirring alternated with sonication cycles. In order to obtain thin membranes and to decrease the gas flow resistance, the polymer-mesoporous silica solutions were casted in Petri dishes and left overnight for slow chloroform evaporation.
The membranes thickness was measured in 10 points by using a micrometer (Schut Geometrische Meettechniek, Groningen, The Netherlands).
After the synthesis, the membranes were degassed at 353 K and 1.2 MPa for 24 h and kept in a desiccator (Isolab Laborgerate GmbH, Eschau, Germany).

Polysulfone (PSf) (average Molecular Weight ~35,000) was purchased from Sigma Aldrich (Product Number: 428302), Sydney, NSW, Australia. Graphene oxide (GO) powder was purchased from Graphenea Inc., Boston, MA, USA. 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) (purity > 99.5%) was purchased from Merck, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Lead (II) nitrate was purchased from Sigma Aldrich (Product Number: 203580).

Polysulfone (PSf) with a molecular weight of 35,000 g/moL, sodium phosphate monobasic, and sodium phosphate dibasic were obtained from Sigma Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). ACS Grades N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), BDH1141-4LP, 95–98% concentrated sulfuric acid(H₂SO₄), BDH3070-25LPC, methanol, and acetic acid (glacial) were obtained from VWR BDH Chemicals (Solon, OH, USA). Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) pallets, 23969-50, were obtained from Polysciences Inc., (Warrington, PA, USA). Microcystin-LR was obtained from Cayman Chemical (Ann Arbor, MI, USA).

The raw materials used to prepare the porous support layer were polysulfone (PSf, average molecular weight of 22,000 Da) purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MI, USA, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, K30) and N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP, analytical purity >99%) from Aladdin, Shanghai, China. The raw materials used to prepare the active selective layer were m-phenylenediamine (MPD, analytical purity >99.5%), n-Hexane (Chromatographic grade, >98%) purchased from Aladdin, Shanghai, China, and trimethyl chloride (TMC, >98%) purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MI, USA. The modified material was MXene nano-sheets (single layer), which was provided by Suzhou Bei Ke 2D Materials Co., Ltd. Suzhou, China. In addition, the reagents for preparing the draw solution and feed solution were sodium chloride, which was purchased from Macklin, Shanghai, China, and self-made pure water (conductivity less than 5 µS/cm), respectively.