Preparation And Properties Of The In Situ Hybridization ZrO₂/PVDF （PES） Ultrafiltration Membrane

In current or next-generation reuse systems, the development of new classes of antifouling membranes is needed before viable membrane-based approaches for wastewater reclamation can be achieved. To the question of the conventional polymer ultrafiltration membranes’antifouling property, a new method for in situ preparation of PVDF(PES) based hybrid ultrafiltration membrane is reported.In this study ZrO2/PVDF(PES) hybrid ultrafiltration membranes with uniform ZrO2nanoparticles in the nanometer range were prepared by combining ion exchange process with traditional immersion precipitation process. Hydrous ZrO2sol was synthesized by addition of anionic exchange resin in N,N-dimethylformamide solvent containing zirconyl chloride. Homogeneous ZrO2PVDF(PES) casting solution was then obtained by dissolving PVDF(PES) polymer in the ZrO2sol. The existence and dispersion states of ZrO2nanoparticles in the resultant membrane matrix were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis(TGA), scanning electron microscope(SEM) and transmission electron microscope(TEM). The results indicate the ZrO2nanoparticles are well dispersed throughout PVDF(PES) matrix and the diameter of the formed nanoparticles was about5-20nm. The hydrophilicity of the membranes was determined by measuring the contact angles. And the contact angles decreased18°and22°separately. The antifouling property was determined by measuring the recovery percentage of pure water flux after the membranes have been fouled by protein foulants (represented by bovine serum albumin) aqueous solution. The results confirm that the existence of ZrO2nanoparticles improves the hydrophilicity and reduces protein adsorption of membranes. The water recovery percentage of ZrO2/PVDF(PES) membranes are approximately2times higher than that of PVDF(PES) membranes after a ternary cycle BSA solution fouling process. The results confirm that the existence of ZrO2nanoparticles improves the hydrophilicity and reduces protein adsorption of membranes.Using this method, in situ preparation of hybrid ultrafiltration membranes can be widely applied for wastewater reclamation.