Synthesis and characterization of PSF-g-Sucralose-g-PANI/Fe2O3 nanocomposite membrane: Water filtration and nano dispersion study

Synthesis and characterization of PSF-g-Sucralose-g-PANI/Fe2O3 nanocomposite membrane: Water filtration and nano dispersion study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Synthesis and characterization of PSF-g-Sucralose-g-PANI/Fe2O3 nanocomposite membrane: Water filtration and nano dispersion study Ramasamy Anbarasan, A. Thamizhlarasan, B. Meenarathi, G. Sribala, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7655836/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract In the present study, two distinct chemical approaches were employed for the structural process: graft functionalization and solution polymerization. For grafting sucralose onto polysulfone (PSF) backbone, a Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction was utilized, while the solution polymerization of aniline was carried out under a nitrogen atmosphere with vigorous stirring. The chemical grafting of sucralose onto PSF backbone was performed using three different sucralose concentrations. Various analytical techniques were used to characterize the resulting products. The FTIR analysis revealed the presence of N–H stretching at 3545 cm⁻¹. Nano-dispersion analysis indicated that increasing the sucralose weight percentage led to enhanced the formation of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, without any chemical interaction with the PSF backbone. Following aniline polymerization, the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles interacted with PANI through its imino nitrogen sites. HRTEM images confirmed the agglomerated nature of the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. Structural modification resulted in improved hydrophilicity, antimicrobial activity, and pure water flux values. Functionalization Characterization Pure water flux Antimicrobial activity Nano dispersion Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11 1 Introduction Water scarcity has become a widespread issue today, primarily due to rapid modernization and industrialization, which have significantly impacted both groundwater and surface water systems. To address this challenge, various water purification techniques have been developed, among which membrane filtration stands out as a widely adopted and commercialized method. However, a major limitation of these membranes lies in their high cost and limited durability, often due to a lack of hydrophilicity and antimicrobial properties. This concern forms the primary motivation for the present research. In this study, despite the high cost of the membrane materials, the filtration efficiency achieved is remarkably high. Through structural modification, both hydrophilicity and durability of the membrane have been significantly enhanced. To establish the context, a review of existing literature on membrane structural modifications is presented. In 2025, Moradian et al reported the PSF-based membranes for the membrane distillation application [ 1 ]. Several modifications to the PSF structure have been reported, including PEG grafting [ 2 ], CNT-grafted PEG for CO₂ separation [ 3 ], and enhancements using graphene oxide [ 4 ], cellulose [ 5 ], chitosan [ 6 ], carboxylic acid (-CO₂H) groups [ 7 ], t-butyl carbazate [ 8 ], propargyl pyrene [ 9 ], amine groups [ 10 ], imidazole [ 11 ], phenyltrimethyl ammonium ions [ 12 ], thiol-ene groups [ 13 ], quaternary ammonium salts [ 14 ], and silane compounds [ 15 ]. Additionally, Fe₃O₄@APTES-functionalized PSF membranes have been used for oil wastewater treatment [ 16 ]. The antifouling properties of PSF were improved by incorporating peptoid oligomers [ 17 ], while Ni-ZnO functionalized PSF was employed for protein filtration [ 18 ]. PSF based membrane for the distillation application was reported in the literature [ 19 ]. PSF based membrane for heavy metal removal was studied by Harsh et al [ 20 ]. To date, the integration of sucralose and polyaniline (PANI)-functionalized polysulfone (PSF) membranes has not been documented in existing literature. In this study, such a combination has been demonstrated to significantly improve the hydrophilicity and antimicrobial properties of PSF, while also enhancing its durability. This innovative functionalization strategy highlights the novelty of the current research. Sucralose, a chlorinated carbohydrate commonly used as an artificial sweetener, has recently emerged as a reducing agent in nanomaterial synthesis. In 2019, Hemmati et al utilized sucralose for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) [ 21 ], while Flippo and colleagues [ 22 ] reported sucralose-capped Ag NPs. Additionally, the literature includes reports on sucrose-mediated synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) for ciprofloxacin detection [ 23 ], sugarcane-mediated synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) [ 24 ], and sucrose-assisted synthesis of NiO nanoparticles (NiO NPs) by Islam et al [ 25 ]. However, sucralose-mediated synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃) has not been previously reported. Furthermore, when grafted onto PSF, sucralose contributes to the membrane’s hydrophilicity and offers potential for further structural modification. This dual role of sucralose—as both a functionalizing agent and a platform for future enhancements—underlines the novelty of the present work. PANI is a polymer containing aromatic amine and imine groups, known for its electrical conductivity in the doped state. Typically, the imino form of PANI readily undergoes doping with acids such as HCl. Despite its excellent antimicrobial activity—attributed to the presence of C = N functionalities [ 26 ]. PANI suffers from drawbacks such as poor hydrophilicity, low molecular weight, and poor water solubility. The synthesis of PANI via persulfate-initiated free radical polymerization of aniline has been well-documented [ 27 ]. In 2019, picric acid-doped PANI was developed, exhibiting notable electrical conductivity and antimicrobial performance [ 28 ]. Other studies have reported the free radical synthesis of novel acid-doped PANI for supercapacitor (SC) applications [ 29 ], as well as PANI/carbon nanodots used in electrochemical systems [ 30 ]. In 2023, Banjar et al successfully synthesized nanosized PANI with superior conductivity [ 31 ]. Enhancements in thermal stability of PANI were achieved by incorporating zirconium nanoparticles (Zr NPs) [ 32 ]. Additionally, highly porous PANI has been synthesized for catalytic applications [ 33 ], and PANI/graphene nanocomposites have shown promising results in SC applications [ 34 ]. Carbon fiber-catalyzed PANI synthesis for SC applications was also reported by Batista and co-workers [ 35 ]. While PANI has been extensively explored in electronic and electrochemical fields, its use in membrane applications remains relatively underexplored. PANI was selected in this research not only for its electrical conductivity and structural integrity but also for its inherent antimicrobial activity and thermal stability-properties that are highly desirable in membrane technologies. In the present study, a novel membrane was fabricated by grafting sucralose-functionalized PANI onto a PSF matrix, aiming to enhance both performance and functionality. 2 Experimental 2.1 Materials Polysulfone (PSF), aniline, potassium persulfate (PDS), and sucralose were procured from Sigma Aldrich, USA. Hydrochloric acid (HCl), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), and acetone were obtained from SD Fine Chemicals, India. Aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) and ferric chloride (FeCl₃) were purchased from CDH Chemicals, India. All reagents used were of analytical reagent (AR) grade. Doubly distilled water was utilized for the preparation of all solutions. 2.2 Fabrication of sucralose functionalized PSF PSF (B1), being chemically inert and lacking reactive functional groups, requires functionalization with a hydrophilic agent to enhance membrane activity. To achieve this, a Friedel–Crafts (FC) alkylation reaction was employed [36]. Specifically, 1 g of PSF was dissolved in 20 mL of NMP in a 100 mL round-bottom flask (RBF), and the mixture was heated to 85 °C for 6 hours under an inert atmosphere with vigorous stirring. Sucralose was introduced at varying weight percentages—0.10 g, 0.30 g, and 0.50 g—dissolved in 10 mL of doubly distilled water (DDW), and then added to the RBF. The reaction mixture was stirred vigorously until a homogeneous solution was obtained. Subsequently, 0.50 g of either AlCl₃ or FeCl₃ catalyst was added, and stirring continued. The RBF was equipped with a water condenser, and the reaction proceeded for 6 hours under an inert atmosphere, as illustrated in Scheme-1. Upon completion, the reaction mixture was treated with an excess of acetone under stirring to precipitate the product. The resulting white solid was filtered and dried in an oven at 85 °C overnight. The dried sucralose-functionalized PSF samples were weighed and stored in a zipper-lock bag under a nitrogen atmosphere. These samples were designated as B2 (1% sucralose by weight), B3 (3% sucralose by weight), and B4 (5% sucralose by weight). For B3 and B4, FeCl₃ was used as the catalyst. 2.3 Synthesis of PANI grafted sucralose functionalized PSF A 1 g sample of PSF containing 5% (by weight) sucralose was dissolved in 20 mL of NMP at 85 °C. Once complete dissolution was achieved, 2 mL of aniline solution was added under a nitrogen atmosphere. During the reaction, hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas was evolved, which acted as a doping agent. After 6 hours of reaction, aniline-grafted, sucralose-functionalized PSF was formed. The reaction mixture was then cooled to 0–5 °C under continuous stirring. At this reduced temperature, an additional 1 mL of aniline was introduced. Separately, 0.50 g of potassium persulfate (PDS) was dissolved in 5 mL of doubly distilled water and added to the reaction flask, followed by the addition of 5 mL of 1M HCl. This initiated in-situ polymerization, evidenced by the development of a green-colored reaction medium. After 6 hours, HCl-doped polyaniline (PANI) was formed, resulting in a green-colored solution [37, 38]. Upon completion, 200 mL of excess acetone was added under stirring, leading to the precipitation of the green product. The precipitate was thoroughly washed with acetone to remove residual NMP and water from the PSF backbone. The final dried product was designated as sucralose-functionalized, PANI-grafted PSF (B5). The reaction pathway is illustrated in Scheme-1. 2.4 Analytical characterizations Perkin Elmer, 100 FT-IR spectrophotometer instruments was used to record FT-IR spectrum for the polymeric samples. 2 mg of polymer sample was mixed with 200 mg of spectral grade KBr and made into a disc under 7 tons of pressure. Binding energy and % elements were determined from XPS Thermo Scientific-Theta Probe-Al radiation. The water contact angles of polymeric samples were determined by VCA 2500, Taiwan instrument. Surface morphology (SEM) and EDX of the sample was measured by JSM 6300, Jeol product, SEM instrument. Using a Japanese equipment, the JEM 2100, TEM pictures were captured. The electrical conductivity of the sample was measured by Keithley-617, Four probe conductivity meter. 2.5 Membrane fabrication and salt water filtration The membrane fabrication was carried out using the doctor blade technique [39]. A polymer solution containing 18% (w/v) of the membrane material was prepared by dissolving the polymer in 100 mL of NMP at 85 °C. The resulting viscous solution was then cast onto a clean A4-sized glass plate. A doctor blade was employed to control and uniformly spread the membrane thickness. Following casting, the film was allowed to undergo partial phase separation (crystallization) for 2 minutes before being gently immersed into a tray filled with impurity-free (doubly distilled) water. At this stage, the solvent molecules began to diffuse gradually into the aqueous medium. This process was sustained for three consecutive days by regularly replacing the water to ensure complete solvent removal. After this period, the hydrated membrane was washed thoroughly with acetone to eliminate any residual solvent and then air-dried overnight. The resulting membrane was utilized for saltwater purification. During testing, water was passed through the membrane using a setup comprising a filtration flask connected to a vacuum pump. The weight of the permeated (filtered) water was recorded at 10-minute intervals. One can determine the value of pure water flow (J w ) indicated in the Eqn. (1). 2.6 Antimicrobial study The antimicrobial activity was evaluated following a standard procedure reported in the literature [39]. Petri dishes containing 20 mL of nutrient agar medium were inoculated with 24-hour-old cultures of bacterial strains ( E. coli -443 and S. aureus -902), adjusted to an optical density (OD) of 0.5 based on the McFarland standard. Wells were carefully punched into the agar, and each well was filled with the test sample at a concentration of 15 μg/mL. The plates were then incubated at 37 °C for 24 hours. Antibacterial activity was determined by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zones formed around the wells. The zone sizes were quantified using GraphPad Prism 6.0 software (USA). Gentamicin was used as the positive control in this study. Nano dispersion study 2.7 Figi software was used for the determination of nano dispersion: 3 Results and discussion 3.1 FTIR spectral study The FTIR spectrum of pristine PSF (B1) membrane is shown in Fig. 1a. The symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations of the –CH₃ groups appear at 2875 and 2975 cm⁻¹, respectively. Aromatic C–H symmetric and asymmetric stretching bands are observed at 3070 and 3112 cm⁻¹. Bending vibrations of C–H are evident at 1494, 1580, and 1697 cm⁻¹. A peak at 1305 cm⁻¹ corresponds to C–S stretching, while SO₂ stretching is observed at 1251 cm⁻¹ [36]. The C–S–C linkage appears at 862 cm⁻¹, and C–H out-of-plane bending is seen at 732 cm⁻¹. Fig. 1b presents the FTIR spectrum of PSF grafted with 1 wt % sucralose. A broad band around 3429 cm⁻¹ is attributed to –OH stretching from sucralose chemically grafted onto the PSF backbone. A peak at 459 cm⁻¹ corresponds to Cl ion stretching from sucralose [40]. The presence of both –OH and Cl ion stretching vibrations confirms the successful chemical grafting of sucralose onto the PSF matrix. The FTIR spectrum of 3 wt % sucralose-grafted PSF, shown in Fig. 1c, exhibits similar characteristic peaks. Likewise, Fig. 1d, corresponding to the 5 wt % sucralose-grafted PSF membrane, shows the same set of distinctive bands. Fig. 1e illustrates the FTIR spectrum of sucralose-functionalized, PANI-grafted PSF. New peaks appear in this spectrum: N–H stretching at 3539 cm⁻¹, quinonoid ring stretching (doublet) at 1559 cm⁻¹, benzenoid ring stretching (doublet) at 1463 cm⁻¹ [38], C–N stretching at 1300 cm⁻¹, and aromatic stretching vibrations at 740 and 555 cm⁻¹. Additionally, Cl ion stretching is noted at 502 cm⁻¹. These new peaks are characteristic of HCl-doped PANI. The observed doublets overlap partially with the C–H bending vibrations of PSF. Thus, the FTIR analysis confirms the presence of functional groups associated with the various modified membrane systems. 3.2 XPS analysis XPS analysis of pristine PSF (Fig. 2a) reveals the presence of carbon (C1s at 281.8 eV), oxygen (O1s at 531.7 eV), and sulfur (S2p at 164.5 eV) [40], with a calculated C/S ratio of 5.60. Following grafting with 5 wt % sucralose, a new peak corresponding to chlorine (Cl2p at 198.5 eV) appears in the spectrum (Fig. 2b), and the C/S ratio decreases to 2.73. This reduction in the C/S ratio, along with a slight increase in the intensities of C1s and O1s, confirms the successful chemical grafting of sucralose onto the PSF backbone. After further modification with HCl-doped PANI, an additional peak associated with nitrogen (N1s at 402.8 eV) emerges in the spectrum (Fig. 2c), indicating the presence of polyaniline. A significant increase in the C1s peak intensity is also observed, and the C/S ratio drops further to 1.77. This further supports the successful chemical grafting of PANI onto the sucralose-functionalized PSF. Overall, the XPS results confirmed the presence and surface-level electronic states of the elements incorporated through each stage of membrane modification. 3.3 Antimicrobial study The antimicrobial performance of the membrane was evaluated in terms of both antibacterial and antifungal activity. Prior to PANI grafting, the membranes exhibited no significant antibacterial effect. As a result, no zones of inhibition (ZOI) were observed for samples B1 to B4, as shown in Fig. 3(a–d). However, after grafting with polyaniline (PANI), a notable antibacterial response was observed, with a ZOI of 18 mm recorded for the B5 membrane (Fig. 3e). This result aligns with previous literature findings [36], confirming the introduction of antibacterial properties through PANI functionalization. A similar trend was observed in the antifungal study. Samples B1 to B4 exhibited no antifungal activity, while the B5 membrane demonstrated a ZOI of 14.8 mm. The antifungal activity is attributed to the presence of C=N-like structures in the PANI backbone. Overall, the membrane showed stronger antibacterial activity compared to antifungal performance, indicating that PANI contributes more significantly to antibacterial efficacy. 3.4 WCA analysis The water contact angle (WCA) analysis is presented here. Fig. 4(a–e) illustrate the WCA measurements for the various membrane systems, while Table 1 provides their corresponding values. The pristine PSF membrane exhibited a WCA of 92.3°, indicating that in PSF the SO₂ groups have only a slight interaction with water molecules. Upon grafting with 1% sucralose, the WCA decreased to 77.6° due to the secondary attractive forces between the –OH groups of sucralose and water molecules. With further increases in the sucralose concentration, the WCA was reduced to 43.6° for the 5 wt % sucralose-loaded sample. For comparison, the CEA-functionalized PSF displayed a WCA of 49.3° [36], which aligns with the results obtained in the current study. The increased sucralose content provides a greater number of free –OH groups to interact with water, thus enhancing the hydrophilicity of the membrane. After graft polymerization with aniline, the WCA increased to 69.4° as a result of the rigid amino and imino structures present in PANI. This structural rigidity leads to a higher WCA, while also imparting antibacterial properties to the membrane system, potentially extending its operational lifespan. 3.5 SEM analysis report The surface morphology of the different membrane systems is presented in Fig. 5. Fig. 5a shows the SEM image of the pristine PSF membrane (B1), which exhibits a characteristic widened canal-like morphology, consistent with previous literature reports [36]. Upon grafting with 1 wt % sucralose, the surface morphology changes significantly (Fig. 5b). The canal-like patterns are replaced by micro-voids, indicating the development of a porous structure. This transformation is attributed to the Friedel–Crafts (FC) alkylation reaction carried out using AlCl₃ as a catalyst. Although the formation of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) is theoretically possible under the given conditions, no such particles are observed in the SEM image. When the sucralose concentration is increased to 3 wt %, and FeCl₃ is used as the catalyst, further changes in surface morphology are observed (Fig. 5c). In this case, nanoparticles appear dispersed on the membrane surface, with sizes ranging from 80 to 120 nm. These are identified as Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. Unlike the B2 system (1% wt sucralose), where no Al₂O₃ NP was detected, the B3 system clearly shows Fe₂O₃ formation, likely promoted by the presence of FeCl₃ and higher sucralose content. The SEM image of the 5 wt % sucralose-grafted membrane (B4) in Fig. 5d shows an even greater number of nanoparticles, confirming that sucralose concentration plays a key role in nanoparticle formation. Two mechanisms are proposed for Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle formation: (i) Polyol method – the –OH groups in sucralose act as reducing agents to convert Fe³⁺ to Fe₂O₃; (ii) Hydrogen transfer (H o transfer) mechanism – during the FC alkylation reaction, hydrogen is abstracted from the PSF backbone, which, in the presence of molecular oxygen, facilitates electron transfer and Fe₂O₃ formation. Importantly, the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles formed in B3 and B4 are not chemically bonded to the sucralose-functionalized PSF but are physically dispersed on the surface. After in-situ polymerization with aniline, the surface morphology of the B5 membrane (Fig. 5e) reveals a larger number of nanoparticles with increased size distribution (80–200 nm). In this case, the nanoparticles appear to interact with the polymer matrix. The imino groups in the PANI structure facilitate adsorption of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles through secondary interactions. In-situ polymerization not only increases the rigidity of the membrane but also enhances its antimicrobial properties and provides binding sites for Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. The electrical conductivity of the B5 membrane was significantly improved, reaching 2.8 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm, indicating its potential utility in membrane applications. Overall, the surface morphology study confirms that both chemical functionalization and in-situ polymerization can promote nanoparticle formation and dispersion, contributing to enhanced membrane properties. 3.6 EDX report The elemental composition of the B1 membrane system, shown in Fig. 6a, includes carbon (83.12%), oxygen (14.22%), and sulfur (2.66%) [36], as listed in Table 1. In Fig. 6b, the EDX spectrum of the B2 system reveals the appearance of a new element—chlorine (Cl) at 1.743%—indicating successful grafting of sucralose. Additionally, the presence of aluminum (Al) at 1.14% confirms the use of AlCl₃ as the Friedel–Crafts alkylation catalyst. In the B3 system (Fig. 6c), AlCl₃ was replaced with FeCl₃, and the spectrum shows the presence of Iron (Fe) at 0.42%. For the B4 system, where the sucralose content was further increased, the Fe content also rose to 1.82%, as seen in Fig. 6d. This trend confirms that higher sucralose concentrations promote greater Fe incorporation, consistent with the nanoparticle formation mechanism discussed in the SEM analysis. The B5 system, shown in Fig. 6e, exhibits the emergence of nitrogen (N) at 3.67%, confirming the presence of PANI. This sample also contains 1.77% Fe, indicating the continued presence of Iron nanoparticles. These EDX results support and complement the surface morphology findings from SEM, confirming the elemental composition changes across the various membrane systems. 3.7 Water filtration study The primary objective of this research was to enhance the pure water flux of the membrane by improving its hydrophilicity and imparting antimicrobial properties. Fig. 7a–e presents the plot of membrane systems versus their corresponding pure water flux values. The pristine PSF membrane (B1) exhibited a pure water flux of 339 L/M²/h. As the sucralose grafting percentage increased from 1% to 5%, the pure water flux rose proportionally, attributed to the enhanced hydrophilicity of the membrane surface. However, following grafting with PANI, the pure water flux slightly decreased to 397 L/M²/h due to a reduction in hydrophilicity. The changes in hydrophilicity for each membrane system were detailed in the previous section. Despite this slight reduction, the PANI-grafted membrane (B5) still demonstrated a significantly higher pure water flux compared to the pristine PSF membrane. Moreover, when compared to Fe₃O₄@APTES-functionalized PSF reported in the literature [16], which had a flux of only 58.3 L/M²/h, the present system showed approximately six times higher performance. This improvement is primarily due to the enhanced hydrophilic nature of the membrane surface. The effect of varying vacuum levels on the pure water flux of different membrane systems was examined, with vacuum levels of 0.10, 0.50, 1.0, 1.50, and 2.0 torr tested, as illustrated in Fig. 8a–e. Among all samples, the B1 system exhibited the lowest pure water flux, while the B4 system recorded the highest. A clear trend was observed: as the vacuum level increased from 0.10 to 2.0 torr, the pure water flux decreased across all membrane systems. Following grafting with PANI, the pure water flux at all vacuum levels was lower compared to the B2, B3, and B4 membranes; however, it remained higher than that of the pristine B1 membrane. Overall, the enhanced pure water flux values can be attributed to improved hydrophilicity and the added antimicrobial properties of the modified membranes. Compared to a PSF/PVP blend membrane reported in the literature [41], which exhibited a pure water flux of 475 L/M²/h, the membranes developed in the present study demonstrated superior performance. 3.8 Nano dispersion study Fiji software was utilized to evaluate the nano dispersity of the membrane systems. Nano dispersity is defined as the number of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) present per unit area (in pixels). SEM analysis revealed that no nanoparticle formation occurred in the 1% wt sucralose-loaded PSF membrane using AlCl₃ as the catalyst. However, with 3% and 5% sucralose loading, Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were successfully formed. At 3% sucralose loading, 633 Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were observed, corresponding to a nano dispersity of 0.259%. When the sucralose loading was increased to 5%, the number of nanoparticles rose to 1408, with a nano dispersity of 0.650%. These results are presented in Fig. 9a and 9b for the 3% and 5% sucralose-loaded membranes, respectively, both based on the PSF matrix. The underlying mechanism of nanoparticle formation is illustrated in Scheme-2. The formation of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles not only contributes to antimicrobial activity but also adds functional value to the membrane system. The presence of secondary interactions between the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles and the polymeric membrane enhances this antimicrobial effect, ultimately improving the membrane's durability. These findings demonstrate that the primary objective of this study enhancing both antimicrobial performance and longevity of the membrane through nanoparticle incorporation was successfully achieved. 3.9 VSM report Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are known for their magnetic properties. During both the functionalization and in-situ polymerization processes, the formation of these nanoparticles occurs, as previously described in the proposed mechanism. The vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) analysis revealed that the B4 membrane exhibited a magnetic moment of 7.2 emu/g (Fig. 10 a). For the B5 membrane, this value increased slightly to 8.0 emu/g (Fig. 10 b), which is likely due to stronger interactions between Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles and the PANI matrix. The corresponding VSM curves for the B4 and B5 systems are shown in Fig. 10a and 10b, respectively. In 2025, a recent study by Khan et al [42], the reported magnetic moment of Fe₂O₃ was less than 4 emu/g. When compared to this literature value, the current system demonstrates significantly enhanced magnetic performance, highlighting the effectiveness of the functionalization strategy used in this study. 3.10 HRTEM report The formation of Fe₂O₃ NPs during the sucralose functionalization and in-situ aniline polymerization processes was confirmed using High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). The HRTEM image of the B4 system is shown in Fig. 11a, where numerous Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are visible, primarily in an agglomerated state. A yellow circle highlights an individual Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle with an approximate size of ~75 nm, while the arrow indicates regions of agglomeration. Fig. 11b displays the HRTEM image of the B5 system. Here too, agglomerated Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are observed, as indicated by the yellow arrow. Additionally, a distinct black spherical particle with a size of ~90 nm is visible, confirming the formation of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles during the FC alkylation reaction. These HRTEM results are consistent with the earlier SEM findings, further validating the presence of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles in the membrane systems. Similar results have been reported in the literature, such as the green synthesis of Fe₂O₃ using plant extracts, which also produced larger, agglomerated nanoparticles due to the slower formation rate via bio-chemical pathways [43]. The findings of the present study are in agreement with this literature report. 4 Conclusions This study successfully demonstrated the functionalization of PSF with sucralose via a Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction, followed by grafting of PANI through in-situ free radical solution polymerization. The formation of PANI was confirmed by FTIR analysis, where characteristic benzenoid and quinonoid stretching bands appeared at 1453 and 1559 cm⁻¹, respectively. XPS analysis further validated PANI incorporation with a peak at 402.8 eV, corresponding to the N1s level of PANI. The B4 membrane system exhibited notable antibacterial and antifungal activity, attributed to the presence of C=N groups in the PANI structure. The WCA for 5 wt % sucralose-grafted PSF was reduced to 43.6°, indicating enhanced hydrophilicity. After PANI grafting, the WCA increased to 69.4°, due to the rigidity introduced by the PANI backbone. EDX analysis confirmed the presence of nitrogen (3.67%), indicating successful grafting of PANI onto the sucralose-functionalized PSF. SEM images revealed that increasing sucralose loading led to a corresponding rise in Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle formation. Among all samples, the B4 system showed the highest pure water flux, while flux values decreased progressively with increasing vacuum levels from 0.10 to 2.0 torr. The B5 membrane exhibited an electrical conductivity of 2.8 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm, further validating its functional enhancement. Nano-dispersion analysis revealed a dispersion value of 0.650% for the 5% wt sucralose-loaded PSF membrane. VSM analysis showed that the B5 membrane possessed a higher magnetic response than B4, due to interactions between Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles and the imino groups of PANI. HRTEM imaging indicated agglomerated Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles in both B4 and B5 systems, supporting the SEM findings. Overall, the primary objectives of improving hydrophilicity, antimicrobial properties, and functional performance of the PSF membrane were successfully achieved. Future work will focus on evaluating the modified membranes for the filtration of BSA to expand their application in bio-molecular separation. Abbreviations PANI-poly(aniline) PSF-polysulfone SC-supercapacitor DDW-double distilled water NP-nano particle PEG-poly(ethyleneglycol) BSA-bovine serum albumin PDS-peroxydisulphate NMP-N-methylpyrrolidone FC-Friedel-Crafts RBF-round bottomed flask CEA-chloro ethylamine Declarations CRediT authorship contribution statement R.Anbarasan-wrote this paper. A.Thamizhlarasan-all the experimental work was done by him. B.Meenarathi-pure water filtration study was done by her. G. Sribala-Analytical characterizations were done by her. L. Kannammal-WCA measurement was done by her. A. Amala Jeya Ranchani-Nano dispersion calculation work was done by her. P. 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Supplementary Files Table.docx scheme1.png scheme2.png Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. 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16:22:45","extension":"html","order_by":34,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":119467,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/69459651851ff3d20ff150ea.html"},{"id":92733910,"identity":"3ee9d15d-231e-445a-b3ab-b82b22b1407f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:22:44","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":143410,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eFTIR spectrum of (a)B1, (b)B2, (c)B3, (d)B4, (e)B5 membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/38778c3b293d76f3dda037da.png"},{"id":92735586,"identity":"3bf572c9-83ac-4ac3-a854-af7924e9b459","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:30:44","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":86567,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eXPS of (a)B1, (b)B2, (c)B5 membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/0b7873bb8b8e0178b92578b3.png"},{"id":92733917,"identity":"9c0455a1-0b86-491d-b433-b3e8b6cdeb6b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:22:44","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":164816,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eAntibacterial and antifungus activities of (a)B1, (b)B2, (c)B3, (d)B4, (e)B5 membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/b76ea05f2b5720999c52913b.png"},{"id":92733920,"identity":"9a1215d5-b4e8-4037-89cc-2da18f435784","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:22:44","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":173630,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eWCA image of (a)B1, (b)B2, (c)B3, (d)B4, (e)B5 membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/2ff745c17413320867e276ef.png"},{"id":92736960,"identity":"969e764b-321b-4d29-bc3d-7dc280f13976","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:38:44","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":509904,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSEM image of (a)B1, (b)B2, (c)B3, (d)B4, (e)B5 membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/b37f3722e316434b84ff9d14.png"},{"id":92733919,"identity":"439faf53-66e5-43ac-b755-98cdd7186a53","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:22:44","extension":"png","order_by":6,"title":"Figure 6","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":99580,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEDX spectrum of (a)B1, (b)B2, (c)B3, (d)B4, (e)B5 membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"6.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/e56fbb6433ceb799e2d4acac.png"},{"id":92735593,"identity":"5fe661c6-1d48-4785-b2cc-2cd1e8a82d87","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:30:45","extension":"png","order_by":7,"title":"Figure 7","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":250952,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003ePure water flux value of (a)B1, (b)B2, (c)B3, (d)B4 and (e)B5 membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"7.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/cfff5fcf89dd62c8379a2d66.png"},{"id":92735591,"identity":"eb33335b-5177-4f37-b529-eaf899f3f44e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:30:44","extension":"png","order_by":8,"title":"Figure 8","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":67232,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e(a)B1, (b)B2, (c)B3, (d)B4, (e)B5 membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"8.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/1af67d24157add97b3b39e2f.png"},{"id":92733939,"identity":"3e592d56-44e6-48fe-999f-f543e35a6259","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:22:45","extension":"png","order_by":9,"title":"Figure 9","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":584796,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eDetermination of nano dispersion for (a)B3, (b)B4 membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"9.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/7177069d942afd67bbaf51b8.png"},{"id":92735589,"identity":"dd6da079-f570-411f-972f-cc959ccbd4f9","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:30:44","extension":"png","order_by":10,"title":"Figure 10","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":51180,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eVSM loop of (a)B4 and (b)B5 membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"10.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/2587e430d40d0c768e5e9595.png"},{"id":92733942,"identity":"e92f54cd-ac3b-41d2-bf28-d8cdca935353","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:22:45","extension":"png","order_by":11,"title":"Figure 11","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":428642,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eHRTEM image of (a)B4 and (b)B5 membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"11.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/a55d79e1b86bf0310e826689.png"},{"id":104403894,"identity":"68c49014-4d8f-4877-9ce7-977fef29201a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-11 12:19:19","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3093521,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/ac2c21b5-2b7c-4670-a6fe-5373b4def3e5.pdf"},{"id":92735584,"identity":"844b54e2-f55a-4eed-b097-879f586bda5e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:30:44","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":14042,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Table.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/6db68c361198cf14c9b792d0.docx"},{"id":92733914,"identity":"f4dbde38-6627-4f63-a99e-ee12948fe63f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:22:44","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":174559,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"scheme1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/bcd2dc2830a640cb7b2adab9.png"},{"id":92733912,"identity":"e9410a97-62b9-4b5d-b3ea-4e3a1e052f46","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 16:22:44","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":49021,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"scheme2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7655836/v1/d96263003b73ea6978a810ca.png"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Synthesis and characterization of PSF-g-Sucralose-g-PANI/Fe2O3 nanocomposite membrane: Water filtration and nano dispersion study","fulltext":[{"header":"1 Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eWater scarcity has become a widespread issue today, primarily due to rapid modernization and industrialization, which have significantly impacted both groundwater and surface water systems. To address this challenge, various water purification techniques have been developed, among which membrane filtration stands out as a widely adopted and commercialized method. However, a major limitation of these membranes lies in their high cost and limited durability, often due to a lack of hydrophilicity and antimicrobial properties. This concern forms the primary motivation for the present research. In this study, despite the high cost of the membrane materials, the filtration efficiency achieved is remarkably high. Through structural modification, both hydrophilicity and durability of the membrane have been significantly enhanced. To establish the context, a review of existing literature on membrane structural modifications is presented. In 2025, Moradian et al reported the PSF-based membranes for the membrane distillation application [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Several modifications to the PSF structure have been reported, including PEG grafting [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e], CNT-grafted PEG for CO₂ separation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e], and enhancements using graphene oxide [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e], cellulose [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e], chitosan [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e], carboxylic acid (-CO₂H) groups [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e], t-butyl carbazate [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e], propargyl pyrene [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e], amine groups [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e], imidazole [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e], phenyltrimethyl ammonium ions [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e], thiol-ene groups [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e], quaternary ammonium salts [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e], and silane compounds [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, Fe₃O₄@APTES-functionalized PSF membranes have been used for oil wastewater treatment [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. The antifouling properties of PSF were improved by incorporating peptoid oligomers [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e], while Ni-ZnO functionalized PSF was employed for protein filtration [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. PSF based membrane for the distillation application was reported in the literature [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. PSF based membrane for heavy metal removal was studied by Harsh et al [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]. To date, the integration of sucralose and polyaniline (PANI)-functionalized polysulfone (PSF) membranes has not been documented in existing literature. In this study, such a combination has been demonstrated to significantly improve the hydrophilicity and antimicrobial properties of PSF, while also enhancing its durability. This innovative functionalization strategy highlights the novelty of the current research.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSucralose, a chlorinated carbohydrate commonly used as an artificial sweetener, has recently emerged as a reducing agent in nanomaterial synthesis. In 2019, Hemmati et al utilized sucralose for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e], while Flippo and colleagues [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e] reported sucralose-capped Ag NPs. Additionally, the literature includes reports on sucrose-mediated synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) for ciprofloxacin detection [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e], sugarcane-mediated synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e], and sucrose-assisted synthesis of NiO nanoparticles (NiO NPs) by Islam et al [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. However, sucralose-mediated synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃) has not been previously reported. Furthermore, when grafted onto PSF, sucralose contributes to the membrane\u0026rsquo;s hydrophilicity and offers potential for further structural modification. This dual role of sucralose\u0026mdash;as both a functionalizing agent and a platform for future enhancements\u0026mdash;underlines the novelty of the present work.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePANI is a polymer containing aromatic amine and imine groups, known for its electrical conductivity in the doped state. Typically, the imino form of PANI readily undergoes doping with acids such as HCl. Despite its excellent antimicrobial activity\u0026mdash;attributed to the presence of C\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;N functionalities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e]. PANI suffers from drawbacks such as poor hydrophilicity, low molecular weight, and poor water solubility. The synthesis of PANI via persulfate-initiated free radical polymerization of aniline has been well-documented [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e]. In 2019, picric acid-doped PANI was developed, exhibiting notable electrical conductivity and antimicrobial performance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e]. Other studies have reported the free radical synthesis of novel acid-doped PANI for supercapacitor (SC) applications [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e], as well as PANI/carbon nanodots used in electrochemical systems [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e]. In 2023, Banjar et al successfully synthesized nanosized PANI with superior conductivity [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e]. Enhancements in thermal stability of PANI were achieved by incorporating zirconium nanoparticles (Zr NPs) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, highly porous PANI has been synthesized for catalytic applications [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e], and PANI/graphene nanocomposites have shown promising results in SC applications [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e]. Carbon fiber-catalyzed PANI synthesis for SC applications was also reported by Batista and co-workers [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e]. While PANI has been extensively explored in electronic and electrochemical fields, its use in membrane applications remains relatively underexplored. PANI was selected in this research not only for its electrical conductivity and structural integrity but also for its inherent antimicrobial activity and thermal stability-properties that are highly desirable in membrane technologies. In the present study, a novel membrane was fabricated by grafting sucralose-functionalized PANI onto a PSF matrix, aiming to enhance both performance and functionality.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2 Experimental","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e2.1 Materials\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePolysulfone (PSF), aniline, potassium persulfate (PDS), and sucralose were procured from Sigma Aldrich, USA. Hydrochloric acid (HCl), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), and acetone were obtained from SD Fine Chemicals, India. Aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) and ferric chloride (FeCl₃) were purchased from CDH Chemicals, India. All reagents used were of analytical reagent (AR) grade. Doubly distilled water was utilized for the preparation of all solutions.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;2.2 Fabrication of sucralose functionalized PSF\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePSF (B1), being chemically inert and lacking reactive functional groups, requires functionalization with a hydrophilic agent to enhance membrane activity. To achieve this, a Friedel\u0026ndash;Crafts (FC) alkylation reaction was employed [36]. Specifically, 1 g of PSF was dissolved in 20 mL of NMP in a 100 mL round-bottom flask (RBF), and the mixture was heated to 85 \u0026deg;C for 6 hours under an inert atmosphere with vigorous stirring. Sucralose was introduced at varying weight percentages\u0026mdash;0.10 g, 0.30 g, and 0.50 g\u0026mdash;dissolved in 10 mL of doubly distilled water (DDW), and then added to the RBF. The reaction mixture was stirred vigorously until a homogeneous solution was obtained. Subsequently, 0.50 g of either AlCl₃ or FeCl₃ catalyst was added, and stirring continued. The RBF was equipped with a water condenser, and the reaction proceeded for 6 hours under an inert atmosphere, as illustrated in Scheme-1. Upon completion, the reaction mixture was treated with an excess of acetone under stirring to precipitate the product. The resulting white solid was filtered and dried in an oven at 85 \u0026deg;C overnight. The dried sucralose-functionalized PSF samples were weighed and stored in a zipper-lock bag under a nitrogen atmosphere. These samples were designated as B2 (1% sucralose by weight), B3 (3% sucralose by weight), and B4 (5% sucralose by weight). For B3 and B4, FeCl₃ was used as the catalyst.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e2.3 Synthesis of PANI grafted sucralose functionalized PSF\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 1 g sample of PSF containing 5% (by weight) sucralose was dissolved in 20 mL of NMP at 85 \u0026deg;C. Once complete dissolution was achieved, 2 mL of aniline solution was added under a nitrogen atmosphere. During the reaction, hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas was evolved, which acted as a doping agent. After 6 hours of reaction, aniline-grafted, sucralose-functionalized PSF was formed. The reaction mixture was then cooled to 0\u0026ndash;5 \u0026deg;C under continuous stirring. At this reduced temperature, an additional 1 mL of aniline was introduced. Separately, 0.50 g of potassium persulfate (PDS) was dissolved in 5 mL of doubly distilled water and added to the reaction flask, followed by the addition of 5 mL of 1M HCl. This initiated \u003cem\u003ein-situ\u003c/em\u003e polymerization, evidenced by the development of a green-colored reaction medium. After 6 hours, HCl-doped polyaniline (PANI) was formed, resulting in a green-colored solution [37, 38]. Upon completion, 200 mL of excess acetone was added under stirring, leading to the precipitation of the green product. The precipitate was thoroughly washed with acetone to remove residual NMP and water from the PSF backbone. The final dried product was designated as sucralose-functionalized, PANI-grafted PSF (B5). The reaction pathway is illustrated in Scheme-1.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e2.4 Analytical characterizations\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerkin Elmer, 100 FT-IR spectrophotometer instruments was used to record FT-IR spectrum for the polymeric samples. 2 mg of polymer sample was mixed with 200 mg of spectral grade KBr and made into a disc under 7 tons of pressure. Binding energy and % elements were determined from XPS Thermo Scientific-Theta Probe-Al radiation. The water contact angles of polymeric samples were determined by VCA 2500, Taiwan instrument. Surface morphology (SEM) and EDX of the sample was measured by JSM 6300, Jeol product, SEM instrument. Using a Japanese equipment, the JEM 2100, TEM pictures were captured. The electrical conductivity of the sample was measured by Keithley-617, Four probe conductivity meter.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e2.5 Membrane fabrication and salt water filtration\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe membrane fabrication was carried out using the doctor blade technique [39]. A polymer solution containing 18% (w/v) of the membrane material was prepared by dissolving the polymer in 100 mL of NMP at 85 \u0026deg;C. The resulting viscous solution was then cast onto a clean A4-sized glass plate. A doctor blade was employed to control and uniformly spread the membrane thickness. Following casting, the film was allowed to undergo partial phase separation (crystallization) for 2 minutes before being gently immersed into a tray filled with impurity-free (doubly distilled) water. At this stage, the solvent molecules began to diffuse gradually into the aqueous medium. This process was sustained for three consecutive days by regularly replacing the water to ensure complete solvent removal. After this period, the hydrated membrane was washed thoroughly with acetone to eliminate any residual solvent and then air-dried overnight. The resulting membrane was utilized for saltwater purification. During testing, water was passed through the membrane using a setup comprising a filtration flask connected to a vacuum pump. The weight of the permeated (filtered) water was recorded at 10-minute intervals. One can determine the value of pure water flow (J\u003csub\u003ew\u003c/sub\u003e) indicated in the Eqn. (1).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/58895_8739fc6c57c1c19a/58895_custom_files/img1759498182.png\" width=\"746\" height=\"95\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e2.6 \u0026nbsp;Antimicrobial study\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe antimicrobial activity was evaluated following a standard procedure reported in the literature [39]. Petri dishes containing 20 mL of nutrient agar medium were inoculated with 24-hour-old cultures of bacterial strains (\u003cem\u003eE. coli\u003c/em\u003e-443 and \u003cem\u003eS. aureus\u003c/em\u003e-902), adjusted to an optical density (OD) of 0.5 based on the McFarland standard. Wells were carefully punched into the agar, and each well was filled with the test sample at a concentration of 15 \u0026mu;g/mL. The plates were then incubated at 37 \u0026deg;C for 24 hours. Antibacterial activity was determined by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zones formed around the wells. The zone sizes were quantified using GraphPad Prism 6.0 software (USA). Gentamicin was used as the positive control in this study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNano dispersion study\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.7 Figi software was used for the determination of nano dispersion:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/58895_8739fc6c57c1c19a/58895_custom_files/img1759498213.png\" width=\"669\" height=\"102\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"3 Results and discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.1 FTIR spectral study\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe FTIR spectrum of pristine PSF (B1) membrane is shown in Fig. 1a. The symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations of the \u0026ndash;CH₃ groups appear at 2875 and 2975 cm⁻\u0026sup1;, respectively. Aromatic C\u0026ndash;H symmetric and asymmetric stretching bands are observed at 3070 and 3112 cm⁻\u0026sup1;. Bending vibrations of C\u0026ndash;H are evident at 1494, 1580, and 1697 cm⁻\u0026sup1;. A peak at 1305 cm⁻\u0026sup1; corresponds to C\u0026ndash;S stretching, while SO₂ stretching is observed at 1251 cm⁻\u0026sup1; [36]. The C\u0026ndash;S\u0026ndash;C linkage appears at 862 cm⁻\u0026sup1;, and C\u0026ndash;H out-of-plane bending is seen at 732 cm⁻\u0026sup1;. Fig. 1b presents the FTIR spectrum of PSF grafted with 1 wt % sucralose. A broad band around 3429 cm⁻\u0026sup1; is attributed to \u0026ndash;OH stretching from sucralose chemically grafted onto the PSF backbone. A peak at 459 cm⁻\u0026sup1; corresponds to Cl ion stretching from sucralose [40]. The presence of both \u0026ndash;OH and Cl ion stretching vibrations confirms the successful chemical grafting of sucralose onto the PSF matrix. The FTIR spectrum of 3 wt % sucralose-grafted PSF, shown in Fig. 1c, exhibits similar characteristic peaks. Likewise, Fig. 1d, corresponding to the 5 wt % sucralose-grafted PSF membrane, shows the same set of distinctive bands. Fig. 1e illustrates the FTIR spectrum of sucralose-functionalized, PANI-grafted PSF. New peaks appear in this spectrum: N\u0026ndash;H stretching at 3539 cm⁻\u0026sup1;, quinonoid ring stretching (doublet) at 1559 cm⁻\u0026sup1;, benzenoid ring stretching (doublet) at 1463 cm⁻\u0026sup1; [38], C\u0026ndash;N stretching at 1300 cm⁻\u0026sup1;, and aromatic stretching vibrations at 740 and 555 cm⁻\u0026sup1;. Additionally, Cl ion stretching is noted at 502 cm⁻\u0026sup1;. These new peaks are characteristic of HCl-doped PANI. The observed doublets overlap partially with the C\u0026ndash;H bending vibrations of PSF. Thus, the FTIR analysis confirms the presence of functional groups associated with the various modified membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.2 XPS analysis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eXPS analysis of pristine PSF (Fig. 2a) reveals the presence of carbon (C1s at 281.8 eV), oxygen (O1s at 531.7 eV), and sulfur (S2p at 164.5 eV) [40], with a calculated C/S ratio of 5.60. Following grafting with 5 wt % sucralose, a new peak corresponding to chlorine (Cl2p at 198.5 eV) appears in the spectrum (Fig. 2b), and the C/S ratio decreases to 2.73. This reduction in the C/S ratio, along with a slight increase in the intensities of C1s and O1s, confirms the successful chemical grafting of sucralose onto the PSF backbone. After further modification with HCl-doped PANI, an additional peak associated with nitrogen (N1s at 402.8 eV) emerges in the spectrum (Fig. 2c), indicating the presence of polyaniline. A significant increase in the C1s peak intensity is also observed, and the C/S ratio drops further to 1.77. This further supports the successful chemical grafting of PANI onto the sucralose-functionalized PSF. Overall, the XPS results confirmed the presence and surface-level electronic states of the elements incorporated through each stage of membrane modification.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.3 Antimicrobial study\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe antimicrobial performance of the membrane was evaluated in terms of both antibacterial and antifungal activity. Prior to PANI grafting, the membranes exhibited no significant antibacterial effect. As a result, no zones of inhibition (ZOI) were observed for samples B1 to B4, as shown in Fig. 3(a\u0026ndash;d). However, after grafting with polyaniline (PANI), a notable antibacterial response was observed, with a ZOI of 18 mm recorded for the B5 membrane (Fig. 3e). This result aligns with previous literature findings [36], confirming the introduction of antibacterial properties through PANI functionalization. A similar trend was observed in the antifungal study. Samples B1 to B4 exhibited no antifungal activity, while the B5 membrane demonstrated a ZOI of 14.8 mm. The antifungal activity is attributed to the presence of C=N-like structures in the PANI backbone. Overall, the membrane showed stronger antibacterial activity compared to antifungal performance, indicating that PANI contributes more significantly to antibacterial efficacy.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.4 WCA analysis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe water contact angle (WCA) analysis is presented here. Fig. 4(a\u0026ndash;e) illustrate the WCA measurements for the various membrane systems, while Table 1 provides their corresponding values. The pristine PSF membrane exhibited a WCA of 92.3\u0026deg;, indicating that in PSF the SO₂ groups have only a slight interaction with water molecules. Upon grafting with 1% sucralose, the WCA decreased to 77.6\u0026deg; due to the secondary attractive forces between the \u0026ndash;OH groups of sucralose and water molecules. With further increases in the sucralose concentration, the WCA was reduced to 43.6\u0026deg; for the 5 wt % sucralose-loaded sample. For comparison, the CEA-functionalized PSF displayed a WCA of 49.3\u0026deg; [36], which aligns with the results obtained in the current study. The increased sucralose content provides a greater number of free \u0026ndash;OH groups to interact with water, thus enhancing the hydrophilicity of the membrane. After graft polymerization with aniline, the WCA increased to 69.4\u0026deg; as a result of the rigid amino and imino structures present in PANI. This structural rigidity leads to a higher WCA, while also imparting antibacterial properties to the membrane system, potentially extending its operational lifespan.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.5 SEM analysis report\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surface morphology of the different membrane systems is presented in Fig. 5. Fig. 5a shows the SEM image of the pristine PSF membrane (B1), which exhibits a characteristic widened canal-like morphology, consistent with previous literature reports [36]. Upon grafting with 1 wt % sucralose, the surface morphology changes significantly (Fig. 5b). The canal-like patterns are replaced by micro-voids, indicating the development of a porous structure. This transformation is attributed to the Friedel\u0026ndash;Crafts (FC) alkylation reaction carried out using AlCl₃ as a catalyst. Although the formation of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) is theoretically possible under the given conditions, no such particles are observed in the SEM image. When the sucralose concentration is increased to 3 wt %, and FeCl₃ is used as the catalyst, further changes in surface morphology are observed (Fig. 5c). In this case, nanoparticles appear dispersed on the membrane surface, with sizes ranging from 80 to 120 nm. These are identified as Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. Unlike the B2 system (1% wt sucralose), where no Al₂O₃ NP was detected, the B3 system clearly shows Fe₂O₃ formation, likely promoted by the presence of FeCl₃ and higher sucralose content. The SEM image of the 5 wt % sucralose-grafted membrane (B4) in Fig. 5d shows an even greater number of nanoparticles, confirming that sucralose concentration plays a key role in nanoparticle formation. Two mechanisms are proposed for Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle formation:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(i)\u0026nbsp;\u003cstrong\u003ePolyol method\u003c/strong\u003e \u0026ndash; the \u0026ndash;OH groups in sucralose act as reducing agents to convert Fe\u0026sup3;⁺ to Fe₂O₃;\u003cbr\u003e(ii) \u003cstrong\u003eHydrogen transfer (H\u003csup\u003eo\u003c/sup\u003e transfer) mechanism\u003c/strong\u003e \u0026ndash; during the FC alkylation reaction, hydrogen is abstracted from the PSF backbone, which, in the presence of molecular oxygen, facilitates electron transfer and Fe₂O₃ formation.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImportantly, the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles formed in B3 and B4 are not chemically bonded to the sucralose-functionalized PSF but are physically dispersed on the surface. After \u003cem\u003ein-situ\u003c/em\u003e polymerization with aniline, the surface morphology of the B5 membrane (Fig. 5e) reveals a larger number of nanoparticles with increased size distribution (80\u0026ndash;200 nm). In this case, the nanoparticles appear to interact with the polymer matrix. The imino groups in the PANI structure facilitate adsorption of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles through secondary interactions. \u003cem\u003eIn-situ\u003c/em\u003e polymerization not only increases the rigidity of the membrane but also enhances its antimicrobial properties and provides binding sites for Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. The electrical conductivity of the B5 membrane was significantly improved, reaching 2.8 \u0026times; 10⁻⁵ S/cm, indicating its potential utility in membrane applications. Overall, the surface morphology study confirms that both chemical functionalization and \u003cem\u003ein-situ\u003c/em\u003e polymerization can promote nanoparticle formation and dispersion, contributing to enhanced membrane properties.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.6 EDX report\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe elemental composition of the B1 membrane system, shown in Fig. 6a, includes carbon (83.12%), oxygen (14.22%), and sulfur (2.66%) [36], as listed in Table 1. In Fig. 6b, the EDX spectrum of the B2 system reveals the appearance of a new element\u0026mdash;chlorine (Cl) at 1.743%\u0026mdash;indicating successful grafting of sucralose. Additionally, the presence of aluminum (Al) at 1.14% confirms the use of AlCl₃ as the Friedel\u0026ndash;Crafts alkylation catalyst. In the B3 system (Fig. 6c), AlCl₃ was replaced with FeCl₃, and the spectrum shows the presence of Iron (Fe) at 0.42%. For the B4 system, where the sucralose content was further increased, the Fe content also rose to 1.82%, as seen in Fig. 6d. This trend confirms that higher sucralose concentrations promote greater Fe incorporation, consistent with the nanoparticle formation mechanism discussed in the SEM analysis. The B5 system, shown in Fig. 6e, exhibits the emergence of nitrogen (N) at 3.67%, confirming the presence of PANI. This sample also contains 1.77% Fe, indicating the continued presence of Iron nanoparticles. These EDX results support and complement the surface morphology findings from SEM, confirming the elemental composition changes across the various membrane systems.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.7 Water filtration study\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe primary objective of this research was to enhance the pure water flux of the membrane by improving its hydrophilicity and imparting antimicrobial properties. Fig. 7a\u0026ndash;e presents the plot of membrane systems versus their corresponding pure water flux values. The pristine PSF membrane (B1) exhibited a pure water flux of 339 L/M\u0026sup2;/h. As the sucralose grafting percentage increased from 1% to 5%, the pure water flux rose proportionally, attributed to the enhanced hydrophilicity of the membrane surface. However, following grafting with PANI, the pure water flux slightly decreased to 397 L/M\u0026sup2;/h due to a reduction in hydrophilicity. The changes in hydrophilicity for each membrane system were detailed in the previous section. Despite this slight reduction, the PANI-grafted membrane (B5) still demonstrated a significantly higher pure water flux compared to the pristine PSF membrane. Moreover, when compared to Fe₃O₄@APTES-functionalized PSF reported in the literature [16], which had a flux of only 58.3 L/M\u0026sup2;/h, the present system showed approximately six times higher performance. This improvement is primarily due to the enhanced hydrophilic nature of the membrane surface.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe effect of varying vacuum levels on the pure water flux of different membrane systems was examined, with vacuum levels of 0.10, 0.50, 1.0, 1.50, and 2.0 torr tested, as illustrated in Fig. 8a\u0026ndash;e. Among all samples, the B1 system exhibited the lowest pure water flux, while the B4 system recorded the highest. A clear trend was observed: as the vacuum level increased from 0.10 to 2.0 torr, the pure water flux decreased across all membrane systems. Following grafting with PANI, the pure water flux at all vacuum levels was lower compared to the B2, B3, and B4 membranes; however, it remained higher than that of the pristine B1 membrane. Overall, the enhanced pure water flux values can be attributed to improved hydrophilicity and the added antimicrobial properties of the modified membranes. Compared to a PSF/PVP blend membrane reported in the literature [41], which exhibited a pure water flux of 475 L/M\u0026sup2;/h, the membranes developed in the present study demonstrated superior performance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.8 Nano dispersion study\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFiji software was utilized to evaluate the nano dispersity of the membrane systems. Nano dispersity is defined as the number of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) present per unit area (in pixels). SEM analysis revealed that no nanoparticle formation occurred in the 1% \u0026nbsp;wt sucralose-loaded PSF membrane using AlCl₃ as the catalyst. However, with 3% and 5% sucralose loading, Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were successfully formed. At 3% sucralose loading, 633 Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were observed, corresponding to a nano dispersity of 0.259%. When the sucralose loading was increased to 5%, the number of nanoparticles rose to 1408, with a nano dispersity of 0.650%. These results are presented in Fig. 9a and 9b for the 3% and 5% sucralose-loaded membranes, respectively, both based on the PSF matrix. The underlying mechanism of nanoparticle formation is illustrated in Scheme-2. The formation of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles not only contributes to antimicrobial activity but also adds functional value to the membrane system. The presence of secondary interactions between the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles and the polymeric membrane enhances this antimicrobial effect, ultimately improving the membrane\u0026apos;s durability. These findings demonstrate that the primary objective of this study enhancing both antimicrobial performance and longevity of the membrane through nanoparticle incorporation was successfully achieved.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.9 VSM report\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFe₂O₃ nanoparticles are known for their magnetic properties. During both the functionalization and \u003cem\u003ein-situ\u003c/em\u003e polymerization processes, the formation of these nanoparticles occurs, as previously described in the proposed mechanism. The vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) analysis revealed that the B4 membrane exhibited a magnetic moment of 7.2 emu/g (Fig. 10 a). For the B5 membrane, this value increased slightly to 8.0 emu/g (Fig. 10 b), which is likely due to stronger interactions between Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles and the PANI matrix. The corresponding VSM curves for the B4 and B5 systems are shown in Fig. 10a and 10b, respectively. In 2025, a recent study by Khan et al [42], the reported magnetic moment of Fe₂O₃ was less than 4 emu/g. When compared to this literature value, the current system demonstrates significantly enhanced magnetic performance, highlighting the effectiveness of the functionalization strategy used in this study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.10 HRTEM report\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe formation of Fe₂O₃ NPs during the sucralose functionalization and \u003cem\u003ein-situ\u003c/em\u003e aniline polymerization processes was confirmed using High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). The HRTEM image of the B4 system is shown in Fig. 11a, where numerous Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are visible, primarily in an agglomerated state. A yellow circle highlights an individual Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle with an approximate size of ~75 nm, while the arrow indicates regions of agglomeration. Fig. 11b displays the HRTEM image of the B5 system. Here too, agglomerated Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are observed, as indicated by the yellow arrow. Additionally, a distinct black spherical particle with a size of ~90 nm is visible, confirming the formation of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles during the FC alkylation reaction. These HRTEM results are consistent with the earlier SEM findings, further validating the presence of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles in the membrane systems. Similar results have been reported in the literature, such as the green synthesis of Fe₂O₃ using plant extracts, which also produced larger, agglomerated nanoparticles due to the slower formation rate via bio-chemical pathways [43]. The findings of the present study are in agreement with this literature report.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4 Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study successfully demonstrated the functionalization of PSF with sucralose via a Friedel\u0026ndash;Crafts alkylation reaction, followed by grafting of PANI through \u003cem\u003ein-situ\u003c/em\u003e free radical solution polymerization. The formation of PANI was confirmed by FTIR analysis, where characteristic benzenoid and quinonoid stretching bands appeared at 1453 and 1559 cm⁻\u0026sup1;, respectively. XPS analysis further validated PANI incorporation with a peak at 402.8 eV, corresponding to the N1s level of PANI. The B4 membrane system exhibited notable antibacterial and antifungal activity, attributed to the presence of C=N groups in the PANI structure. The WCA for 5 wt % sucralose-grafted PSF was reduced to 43.6\u0026deg;, indicating enhanced hydrophilicity. After PANI grafting, the WCA increased to 69.4\u0026deg;, due to the rigidity introduced by the PANI backbone. EDX analysis confirmed the presence of nitrogen (3.67%), indicating successful grafting of PANI onto the sucralose-functionalized PSF. SEM images revealed that increasing sucralose loading led to a corresponding rise in Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle formation. Among all samples, the B4 system showed the highest pure water flux, while flux values decreased progressively with increasing vacuum levels from 0.10 to 2.0 torr. The B5 membrane exhibited an electrical conductivity of 2.8 \u0026times; 10⁻⁵ S/cm, further validating its functional enhancement. Nano-dispersion analysis revealed a dispersion value of 0.650% for the 5% wt sucralose-loaded PSF membrane. VSM analysis showed that the B5 membrane possessed a higher magnetic response than B4, due to interactions between Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles and the imino groups of PANI. HRTEM imaging indicated agglomerated Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles in both B4 and B5 systems, supporting the SEM findings. Overall, the primary objectives of improving hydrophilicity, antimicrobial properties, and functional performance of the PSF membrane were successfully achieved. Future work will focus on evaluating the modified membranes for the filtration of BSA to expand their application in bio-molecular separation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":"\u003cp\u003ePANI-poly(aniline)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePSF-polysulfone\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSC-supercapacitor\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDDW-double distilled water\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNP-nano particle\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePEG-poly(ethyleneglycol)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBSA-bovine serum albumin\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePDS-peroxydisulphate\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNMP-N-methylpyrrolidone\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFC-Friedel-Crafts\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRBF-round bottomed flask\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCEA-chloro ethylamine\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCRediT authorship contribution statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eR.Anbarasan-wrote this paper. A.Thamizhlarasan-all the experimental work was done by him. B.Meenarathi-pure water filtration study was done by her. G. Sribala-Analytical characterizations were done by her. L. Kannammal-WCA measurement was done by her. A. Amala Jeya Ranchani-Nano dispersion calculation work was done by her. P. Jeyaraman-Membrane fabrication work was done by him. \u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeclaration of competing interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no competing conflict of interest among the authors.\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the present research work, Figi software was used for the determination of nano dispersion. No further data available regarding this. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding acknowledgement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no funding for this piece of research work.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZ. Moradian, S. Ehsan, E. Saljoughi, S.M. Mousavi, S. Ghorab, A.M. Dirin, Effect of polymer concentration and solvent type on PSF membranes for membrane distillation and lithium acetate recovery. Emerg. Mater\u003cem\u003e.\u003c/em\u003e (in press). \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eS. Zhang, J. Zhou, Z. Wan, Preparation of PSF based block copolymer 4F membranes by selective swelling and sacrificing nano fillers. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng. \u003cstrong\u003e16\u003c/strong\u003e, 745-754 (2022).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eS. Sing, A.M. Varghese, S.K. Reddy, G.K. 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Inorganics, \u003cstrong\u003e13\u003c/strong\u003e, 167 (2025).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"},{"header":"Table","content":"\u003cp\u003eTable 1 is available in the Supplementary Files section.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Scheme ","content":"\u003cp\u003eScheme 1 and 2 are available in the Supplementary Files section.\u003c/p\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Functionalization, Characterization, Pure water flux, Antimicrobial activity, Nano dispersion","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7655836/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7655836/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eIn the present study, two distinct chemical approaches were employed for the structural process: graft functionalization and solution polymerization. For grafting sucralose onto polysulfone (PSF) backbone, a Friedel\u0026ndash;Crafts alkylation reaction was utilized, while the solution polymerization of aniline was carried out under a nitrogen atmosphere with vigorous stirring. The chemical grafting of sucralose onto PSF backbone was performed using three different sucralose concentrations. Various analytical techniques were used to characterize the resulting products. The FTIR analysis revealed the presence of N\u0026ndash;H stretching at 3545 cm⁻\u0026sup1;. Nano-dispersion analysis indicated that increasing the sucralose weight percentage led to enhanced the formation of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, without any chemical interaction with the PSF backbone. Following aniline polymerization, the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles interacted with PANI through its imino nitrogen sites. HRTEM images confirmed the agglomerated nature of the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. Structural modification resulted in improved hydrophilicity, antimicrobial activity, and pure water flux values.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Synthesis and characterization of PSF-g-Sucralose-g-PANI/Fe2O3 nanocomposite membrane: Water filtration and nano dispersion study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-10-03 16:22:39","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7655836/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"3af0afad-8604-4ce5-8990-cae781606432","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 3rd, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-06T19:09:55+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-10-03 16:22:39","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7655836","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7655836","identity":"rs-7655836","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}