Efficient Removal of Pb(II) Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using an HFO-PVDF Composite Adsorption Membrane

The efficient purification of Pb(II)-containing wastewater is essential for safeguarding public health and maintaining the aquatic environment. In this study, novel hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) nanoparticle-embedded poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite adsorption membranes were developed through a simple blending method for efficient Pb(II) removal. This composite membrane (denoted as HFO-PVDF) combines the excellent selectivity of HFO nanoparticles for Pb(II) with the membrane’s advantage of easy scalability. The optimized HFO-PVDF(1.5) membrane achieved adsorption equilibrium within 20 h and exhibited excellent adsorption capacity. Moreover, adsorption capacity markedly enhanced with increasing temperature, confirming the endothermic nature of the process. The developed HFO-PVDF membranes demonstrate significant potential for real-world wastewater treatment applications, exhibiting exceptional selectivity for Pb(II) in complex ionic matrices and could be effectively regenerated via a relatively straightforward process. Furthermore, filtration and dynamic regeneration tests demonstrated that at an initial Pb(II) concentration of 5 mg/L, the membrane operated continuously for 10–13 h before regeneration, treating up to 200 L/m2 of wastewater before breakthrough, highlighting potential for cost-effective industrial wastewater treatment. This study not only demonstrates the high efficiency of the HFO-PVDF membrane for heavy metal ion removal but also provides a theoretical foundation and technical support for its practical application in water treatment.