Low-cost antifouling PVC ultrafiltration membrane fabrication with Pluronic F 127: Effect of additives on properties and performance

Baicang Liu, Chen Chen, Wen Zhang, John Crittenden, Yongsheng Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

161 Scopus citations

Abstract

To fabricate low-cost hydrophilic and antifouling ultrafiltration membranes, in this work, we tuned the membrane surface hydrophilicity and porosity by adding different amounts of the amphiphilic copolymer (Pluronic F 127) into polyvinyl chloride (PVC) casting solution. The modified PVC membrane characteristics including oxygen content, morphology and pore size, surface roughness, hydrophilicity, and permeability were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle measurement, and flux measurements. With the increase of Pluronic F 127 content from 0 to 10. wt.%, the oxygen content on the membrane surface increased and then reached an asymptote when 8. wt.% or greater Pluronic F 127 was used; the pore size and the pore density both decreased; the membrane surface became more hydrophilic as indicated by the decreasing contact angles; and the flux declined by 30% when Pluronic F 127 reached 10. wt.%. Overall, the modified PVC membrane exhibited excellent antifouling feature even with Pluronic F 127 as low as 2. wt.%. Due to the membrane flux decline at 10. wt.% Pluronic F 127, the optimal addition of Pluronic F 127 was 8. wt.%, which maintained the antifouling feature and high flux.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)26-33
Number of pages8
JournalDesalination
Volume307
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 3 2012
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Materials Science
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering

Keywords

  • Antifouling
  • Hydrophilicity
  • Pluronic F 127
  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
  • Ultrafiltration membrane

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