This study focuses on the synthesis of electrically conductive montmorillonite-polypyrrole (Mt-PPy) composite nanoparticles (NPs) to enhance antifouling properties and arsenate (As (V)) separation. Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the formation of Mt-PPy composite NPs. Results from porosity, mechanical property, and water uptake analysis of the fabricated membranes incorporating Mt-PPy demonstrated superior performance for the PLA-(Mt-PPy-0.5) membrane. The positive charge of PPy and Cl ions in its structure enhanced the As (V) removal efficiency, mainly in PLA-(MtPPy-0.5) membrane (~100%), where the concentration of Mt-PPy was higher and well-dispersed. An electro-conductive PLA-(Mt-PPy) membrane was employed as a cathode, and the impact of Mt-PPy concentration on the cleaning efficacy of the membranes examined. The findings highlight the potential of conductive membrane in improving antifouling performance. By applying an electric current, PLA-(Mt-PPy-0.5) membrane achieved highest flux recovery ratio (FRR) of approximately 91.3%, due to the stronger repulsive force between the membrane and humic acid (HA). This process also increased As (V) desorption, enabling effective use of the membrane in multiple As (V) adsorption-desorption cycles.
