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. 2018 Oct 12;10(10):1134.
doi: 10.3390/polym10101134.

Novel Photocatalytic PVDF/Nano-TiO₂ Hollow Fibers for Environmental Remediation

Francesco Galiano  1 , Xue Song  2 , Tiziana Marino  3 , Marcel Boerrigter  4 , Omar Saoncella  5 , Silvia Simone  6 , Mirko Faccini  7 , Christiane Chaumette  8 , Enrico Drioli  9 , Alberto Figoli  10
Affiliations

Novel Photocatalytic PVDF/Nano-TiO₂ Hollow Fibers for Environmental Remediation

Francesco Galiano et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) mixed matrix membranes loaded with inorganic TiO₂ nanoparticles have received increasing attention in the last few years as self-cleaning membranes for possible application in wastewater treatment and seawater filtration. These novel membranes show increased hydrophilicity, stability and catalytic activity under UV-A irradiation. In this work, PVDF-TiO₂ hollow fibers were prepared by employing new strategies for enhancing the stability of the TiO₂ dispersion, reducing particle agglomeration and improving their distribution. The spinning conditions for producing ultrafiltration hollow fiber membranes from PVDF material and nano-TiO₂ were investigated. Finally, the optimized fibers have been characterized and tested for methylene blue (MB) degradation in water and salty seawater, revealing good permeability, long-term stability under UV-A irradiation, and photo-catalytic activity in both test solutions.

Keywords: PVDF; TiO2; hollow fiber membranes; mixed matrix membrane; photocatalytic degradation; ultrafiltration.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
ATR spectra from sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) modified TiO2.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Particle size distribution and zeta potential of SDS modified and unmodified TiO2 NPs in aqueous solutions.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Samples dispersion in NMP of: (1) TiO2 P25 (not functionalized) (2) TiO2 chemically functionalized with SDS (HF 1-0.5), and (3) TiO2 (LEITAT solution) dispersed in solvent (HF 2-0.5) after 1 h (a) and after 24 h (b); respectively.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Cross-section SEM images of HF membranes at different magnitude.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Cross section of HF 2-0 and HF 2-0.5 membranes at different magnification.
Figure 6
Figure 6
EDX analyses of HF 1-0.5 and HF 2-0.5 membranes with the peak of Ti circled in red.
Figure 7
Figure 7
BSD images of HF 2-0 and HF 2-0.5 outer surface.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Pure water permeability (PWP) of PVDF HFs produced.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Methylene blue (MB) degradation test for HFs type 2.
Figure 10
Figure 10
MB degradation test for HFs type 2 in 25 g/L of NaCl solution.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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