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Updated: Jun 7, 2025
Preparation of Light-responsive Membranes by a Combined Surface Grafting and Postmodification Process
Published on: March 21, 2014
Enhancing membrane performance for oily wastewater treatment: comparison of PVDF composite membranes prepared by
Erika Nascimben Santos1,2, Ákos Ferenc Fazekas1, Laura Fekete1
1Institute of Biosystem Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Szeged, Moszkvai Blvd. 9, HU-6725, Szeged, Hungary.
Abstract:
This comparative study investigates the modification of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes with different nanoparticles (TiO2 or TiO2-based composites containing BiVO4 and/or CNT), using three distinct methods (blending, coating, and grafting) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The objective was to enhance the photocatalytic and filtration performance for the separation of oil-in-water emulsions. Regarding the UV activity, the PVDF-TiO2/CNT/PVP-coated membrane presented the best performance. Overall, the addition of 2 wt.% CNT to the TiO2 notably enhanced the photocatalytic activity of the membranes for both UV and visible irradiations. Meanwhile, the presence of 2 wt.% BiVO4 was beneficial only for photocatalysis under visible light irradiation. Regarding the filtration of the oil-in-water emulsions, 2 wt.% CNT or BiVO4 addition resulted in the highest fluxes in the series of the PVDF-TiO2-grafted membranes. The presence of pore former PVP led to relatively high fluxes and photocatalytic activities for all series. Regarding the modification methods, coated membranes showed the highest photocatalytic efficiency and lowest fluxes. Grafted membranes showed relatively high photocatalytic efficiencies and the best filtration performances.
