Bryant WongMohammed J. K. BashirKumar KrishnanLing Shing WongNor Faiza Abd RahmanKhai Shin Chan2026-11-102026-11-102025-10-1310.1002/jctb.70082https://dspace-cris.utar.edu.my/handle/123456789/11870BACKGROUND: The escalating global water crisis underscores the urgent need for sustainable and efficient wastewater treatment technologies. This study investigates the use of nanosilica (SiO?), extracted from rice husk—an abundant agricultural by-product—as a functional additive in polyethersulfone (PES) membranes. Membranes containing varying nanosilica loadings (0, 1, 3, and 5 wt.%) were fabricated via phase inversion and assessed for permeability and pollutant removal efficiency. RESULTS: Incorporation of nanosilica markedly improved membrane performance, with the 5 wt.% PES–SiO? membrane exhibiting a pure water flux of 576.65 L m?2·h at 0.8 bar, approximately six times higher than pristine PES (96.85 L m?2·h). Pollutant removal was also significantly enhanced, achieving 91% turbidity reduction, 71% color removal, and 58% COD reduction. SEM analysis confirmed that nanosilica addition increased porosity and macrovoid formation, thereby improving hydrophilicity, permeability, and adsorption properties. CONCLUSION: Rice husk-derived nanosilica provides a cost-effective and sustainable strategy for advancing membrane technology. By simultaneously enhancing permeability and pollutant removal, this approach leverages agricultural waste valorization to deliver efficient wastewater treatment solutions aligned with global sustainability challenges. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).en-USmembrane performancenanosilicapolyethersulfonesustainable solutionwastewater treatmentAgricultural wastesAgricultureChemical industryCost effectivenessMembrane technologyNafion membranesSustainable developmentWater pollutionsilica nanoparticleHybrid membraneMembrane performanceNano SilicaPerformances evaluationPollutants removalPoly(ether sulfone)Polyether sulfoneRice huskSiO 2Sustainable solutionadsorptionArticleattenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopychemical oxygen demandcontrolled studycost effectiveness analysisdomestic wasteenergy dispersive X ray spectroscopyenvironmental sustainabilityhydrophilicitymembrane permeabilityporosityrice huskscanning electron microscopyturbiditywaste component removalwaste water managementwater permeabilitywater pollutantWastewater treatmentjournal-article