Abstract
In this study, a simple and low-cost method is introduced to fabricate polyethersulfone/TiO
2
nanotubes (PES/TiO
2
NTs) membranes. The titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO
2
NTs) are prepared by the hydrothermal method. The diameter of the nanotubes is ranging from 10 to 13 nm. TiO
2
NTs/PES mixed matrix membranes of different TiO
2
NTs % (0.18%, 0.35%, 0.53%, and 0.85%) are prepared by phase inversion method. The effects of TiO
2
NTs %, dye concentration, dye type, and contact time on the dye removal percent and flux are studied. The results showed that the removal % and permeate flux of the membrane for both desalination and dyes separation are enhanced through adding TiO
2
NTs. Also, these membranes show nanofiltration (NF)-reverse osmosis (RO) behavior at 200 mbar vacuum pressure.