Dendrimer supported Fe/Ni bimetallic composites immobilized in polyethersulfone membranes for effective degradation of arginine containing microcystins

The degradation study on arginine containing microcystins (MCY – LR, MCY – YR and MCY - RR) was conducted using poly (propylene imine) dendrimers (G2 and G3) supported Fe/Ni bimetallic composites immobilized in polyethersulfone (PES) membrane. The membrane composites namely PES/G21FeNi, PES/G22FeNi, PES/G31FeNi and PES/G32FeNi were synthesized characterized for FTIR, SEM (with EDS) and AFM studies. Batch degradation studies to remove microcystins from standard and extracted solutions were carried out at the pH of 7.2 ± 0.03 for an equilibrium time of 90 min. The degradation efficiency greater than 80% was achieved for the standard solutions of all the three microcystin congeners and extracted solution of MCY – LR. The compliance of pseudo – first – order kinetics was approved from the regression coefficients. The linear model applied using JMP software implied the validation of 96.7% due to variables. The possible degradation mechanism was explored in the study based on the adsorption followed by degradation of microcystins as a consequence of Fe/Ni participation on the platform of dendrimers.