This study presents a greener approach to fabricate mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) by introducing malachite nanoparticles (MLC NPs) synthesized from copper sulfate, a toxic waste from many industrial applications, into polyethersulfone (PES) membrane to remove organic matter for water reclamation. The PES/MLC MMMs were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM(EDX), Raman Spectroscopy, Photoluminescence Spectrometry, and Contact angle measurements. Results showed that the incorporation of MLC NPs into PES altered the membrane morphology, and made the membrane more hydrophilic. At the optimal amount of 0.1 wt.% MLC NPs, PES/MLC showed the best water flux of 931.1 L/(m(2)h) (LMH) with the highest breaking stability of 5.06 +/- 0.33 MPa. The membrane also exhibited enhanced adsorption of organic foulants with a corresponding flux recovery rate of 0.55 +/- 0.03%. The inevitable agglomeration of MLC NPs witnessed at MLC NP dosage of 1 wt.% compromised either the throughput or the mechanical integrity. The elevated NP loading rate from 0 to 1 wt.% enhanced the removal rate of organic carbon (C) from 20.8 +/- 1.7% to 26.3 +/- 2.3%, respectively. Optical methods demonstrated the preferential rejection of aromatic constituents by the fabricated membranes suggests their potential applicability of optical methods, particularly the fluorescence spectrometry for better prediction of treated water quality by membrane filtration. (C) 2020 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.