TiO2/PVDF Membrane Preparation via Colloidal Precipitation Method

The main objective of this research is to investigate the effect of surface modification of Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane on its filtration performance and fouling reduction. Considering Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles properties in fouling reduction of polymeric membranes and in order to obtain ultrafine and stable nanodispersions on the membrane surface which is the main challenge in this field, composite PVDF/TiO2 ultrafiltration membranes were prepared via phase inversion and colloidal precipitation method. Among various prepared membranes, the PVDF/TiO2 composite membrane using 0.05 g/L of TiO2 in the coagulation bath was selected as the optimum membrane. Roughness reduction of about %24.34 and permeation increase of %15 for the optimum membrane were obtained. The result of the fouling analysis of nanocomposite membranes with BSA showed the improved effect of colliudal precipitation method in naoparticle dispersion on the membrane surface and fouling reduction of the prepared membranes. Indeed, the effect of TiO2 nanoparticle addition via colloidal precipitation method on membrane fouling reduction in membrane bioreactors for refinery wastewater treatment was investigated.