Design and preparation of polypropylene ultrafiltration membrane with ultrahigh flux for both water and oil

Hydrophilic and/or lipophilic monomers have been successfully grafted into the micropores of PP OF membrane and three kinds of PP UF membranes with ultrahigh flux have been prepared by using microwave heating, a selective heating method. PP UF membrane with ultrahigh flux for water has been prepared by grafting sodium maleate into the micropores of PP UF membrane. The water flux of flat membrane increased from 0 to 1028 g cm(-2) h(-1) and the flux of hollow fiber membrane increased 12 times compared with unmodified membrane. PP UF membrane with ultrahigh flux for oil has been prepared by grafting Vi-PDMS into the micropores of PP UF membrane with NaCl as microwave absorber. The flux of flat membrane for different oils are increased significantly compared with unmodified membrane. In addition to be used as UF membrane for oil treatment, it can be also used in separation of oil and water because only oil can pass through the membrane and water cannot. PP UF membrane with ultrahigh flux for both water and oils has been also prepared by grafting both sodium maleate and Vi-PDMS into the micropores of PP UF membrane. The prepared UF membranes were characterized and the mechanism for membrane performance enhancement was discussed as well.