SPC/PVDF membranes for emulsified oily wastewater treatment

New membranes based on sulfonated polycarbonate (SPC) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) were prepared. SPC was obtained by treating polycarbonate (PC) with acetyl sulfate. The ion exchange capacity (IEC) of the sulfonated polymer was 0.6753 meq/g. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the SPC/PVDF membranes constituted heterogeneous blends. Porosimetric measurements by liquid-liquid displacement indicated that there is no substantial change in pore-size distribution due to growing SPC content. Membrane performance was assessed using an oil-water emulsion. Results indicated that the membranes present lower fouling as SPC content increases. When using the resistances-in-series model to quantify fouling, membranes containing 20% of SPC did not present irreversible fouling. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.