Porous YxFeyZr1-x-yO2 coated TiO2 solid superacid particles/PVDF hybrid membranes with anti-fouling property

In order to enhance the integrative capabilities of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane such as hydrophilic, anti-fouling and anti-compaction properties, porous YxFeyZn1-x-yO2 coated TiO2 solid super acid particles (SYFZr-Tis) were prepared via hydrolysis, calcinations and sulfation process, then doped into PVDF membranes to prepare SYFZr-Tis/PVDF hybrid membranes with micro reaction locations (MRLs) through a phase inversion method. SYFZr-Tis and SYFZr-Tis/PVDF hybrid membranes were characterized and analyzed through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Contact angle and tensile strength of membranes were also tested. The anti-compaction and anti-fouling properties of membranes were studied through treating oily wastewater using membranes. The results show that the diameter of SYFZr-Tis is about 400 nm, the thickness of YxFeyZn1-x-yO2 shell is about 50 nm, ZrO2 of tetragonal phase is formed as evidenced by strong diffraction peaks at 20 = 30.15 and 20 = 34.90 in XRD patterns; hydrophilicity and tensile strength of SYFZr-Tis/PVDF hybrid membranes are also improved. Compared with PVDF membrane, SYFZr-Tis/PVDF hybrid membrane with better hydrophilic, anti-fouling and anti-compaction properties shows attractive oil retention rate and permeate flux. Therefore, SYFZr-Tis/PVDF hybrid membrane is suitable to treat oily wastewater. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.