Biomimetic functionalized UiO/PES nanocomposite membrane for enhanced heavy metal ion capture

To address the growing threat of mercury ion pollution in water, a biomimetic nanocomposite membrane was developed by modifying UiO-66-NH₂ with the thiol ligand DPEN, inspired by the Hg(II)-binding mechanism of cysteine in proteins. The membrane was fabricated through in-situ synthesis of UiO-66-NH₂ on a porous polyethersulfone support, followed by chemical grafting of DPEN. Comprehensive characterization via FT-IR, XPS, XRD, SEM confirmed the successful formation of the modified nanoparticles. The fabricated membrane demonstrated outstanding performance, achieving over 99 % removal of Hg(II) with a high pure water flux of 6344 L·m −2 ·h −1 . It also exhibited excellent recyclability, retaining 97.4 % removal efficiency after ten cycles, and maintained structural stability across a broad pH range (3–9). This biomimetic approach offers a promising strategy for designing efficient and durable membranes for heavy metal removal, with significant potential in environmental water treatment.