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Preparation and characterization of a novel hydrophilic PVDF/PVA UF membrane modified by carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes
Author(s) -
Chen GuiE,
Xu SunJie,
Xu ZhenLiang,
Zhu WeiWei,
Wu Qiong,
Sun WeiGuang
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.24325
Subject(s) - materials science , membrane , phase inversion , polyvinylidene fluoride , chemical engineering , polyvinyl alcohol , vinyl alcohol , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , ultrafiltration (renal) , scanning electron microscope , surface modification , polymer chemistry , composite material , polymer , chromatography , chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes were prepared via a phase inversion method employing the modification of carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs‐COOH). Various contents of MWCNTs‐COOHs (0.00–0.15 wt%, weight of casting solution) were added into PVDF/PVA/dimethyl sulfoxide systems for the fabrication of the plate UF membrane. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra identified the successful introduction of carboxyl through the CO peak at 1730 cm −1 . Scanning electron microscopy images exhibited the external surface and the asymmetric morphology with the appearance of a sponge‐like inner structure. Atomic force microscopy analysis determined the roughness values and rougher topography. The hydrophilicity of the composite membrane containing 0.09 wt% of MWCNTs‐COOHs improved the most. This sample has the highest pure water flux, approximately doubled (126.6 L·m −2 ·h −1 ) compared to the PVDF/PVA membrane (68.6 L·m −2 ·h −1 ), an enhanced bovine serum albumin flux recovery rate, showing an increase of 17%, and the best fouling resistance ability. Meanwhile, the porosity and dynamic contactangle also indicate the enhancement of membrane hydrophilicity. Dextran (DEX) 600k rejection reached 91.0%. Break strength, elongation at break, and Young's modulus also had improvements of 60%, 215.5%, and 56.7%, respectively, when the MWCNTs‐COOH content was 0.12 wt%. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:955–967, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers