The Fabrication And Application Of TiO₂-C Nanocrystals Modified PVDF Membrane

TiO2-C nanocrystals containing Ti(SO4)2 and glucose under the magnetic stirring was transfered into a Teflon-sealed autoclave. BDE209 was used as contaminant to determine the photocatalysis property of TiO2-C. The concentration of BDE209 was tested by HPLC. Then modified polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was prepared through a phase inversion method by combining TiO2-C with PVDF casting solution. Five kinds of modified membranes were synthesized according to the dosage of TiO2-C. Pure water flux, contact angle measurement and BSA adsorption of different membranes were determined. Simulation wastewater (Pharmaceutical wastewater: river=1 : 1) was used for treating by membranes. Three different indexes (Including ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus and COD) were determined. Results shows that when TiO2-C reached 0.5% modified membrane has a high application potential. At last, modified polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration membrane in which the concentration of TiO2-C reached 0.5% was compared with Pure PVDF membranes. The surface features, structure, and hydrophilicity of the membrane were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurement, and pure water flux, and its mechanical strength was also determined. The photocatalytic performance of the modified membrane was investigated using reactive brilliant red (X-3B) as a representative contaminant. The characterization results indicated that the TiO2-C nanocrystals were distributed evenly in the PVDF membrane, which exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, and pure water flux compared with those of the pure PDVF membrane. In addition, the rate of photodegradation of X-3B by the modified membrane was obviously higher than that of the pure PVDF membrane, owing to the photocatalysic action of the TiO2-C hybrid aerogel distributed in the modified membrane. Thus, the present modification method has the potential to alleviate membrane fouling during wastewater treatment.