Preparation of PVDF-TiO2 mixed-matrix membrane and its evaluation on dye adsorption and UV-cleaning properties

In this study, the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-Titanium dioxide (TiO2) mixed-matrix membranes were prepared via phase inversion technique. The properties of PVDF-TiO2 mixed-matrix membranes were characterized based on pore size distribution, membrane porosity, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and photocatalytic behavior. The hydrophilicity of the mixed-matrix membrane was enhanced and resulted in the improved pure water permeability (392.81 +/- 10.931/m(2) h bar) compared to that 76.99 +/- 4.87 l/m(2) h bar of the neat membrane. The neat and mixed-matrix membranes were further investigated in terms of filtration, adsorption and UV-cleaning properties based on methylene blue (MB) solution. Mixed-matrix membranes showed excellent removal efficiency (similar to 99%) when sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was introduced into the MB feed solution. The produced mixed-matrix membrane shows some slight photocatalytic properties improvement as FTIR results reviewed that the cleavage of -C=N bonding due to MB adsorption reduced more significantly with the presence of TiO2 NPs and ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The UV-cleaning properties of the mixed-matrix membrane were further proved by the 100% flux recovery ratios (FRRs) for mixed-matrix membrane, suggesting that the embedded TiO2 NPs was photocatalytically active and able to degrade the adsorbed MB in the membrane. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.