Polyvinylidene Fluoride Electrospun Fibers Loaded TiO2for Photocatalytic Degradation and Oil/Water Separation

In this study, electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based nanofibrous membranes embedding TiO(2)were prepared and used for photocatalytic degradation and oil/water separation. The nanofibrous membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electronic microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermal performance analysis, and oil/water separation analysis. And the degradation of rhodamine B dye was also investigated. Results showed that the fiber diameter and thermal stability of the membranes decreased with the increasing of TiO2. Meanwhile, the fiber surface roughness and specific surface area increased. The analysis of TEM, XRD and FTIR indicated that TiO(2)existed in the PVDF membranes. When the TiO(2)content was 12 %, the fiber diameter of the membranes was about 110 nm, and the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye efficiency was up to 97 %. The reaction rate constant was 0.02057 min(-1). At 0.01 MPa vacuum, oil separated from water effectively, which proves that separation can be easily conducted with a low energy cost. Thus, the prepared membranes have a very high application prospect in the purification of reclaimed water and separation of oil and water.