Synthesis and characterization of SBA-15/poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) hybrid membrane

Poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes with low contents of SBA-15 particles (<= 0.72 wt.%, by weight of PVDF) were prepared by a phase inversion process. The thin membranes were then characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), tensile stress tests, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), contact angle technique, water flux and BSA rejection to investigate the influence on the final properties of the developed membrane. The resulting modified membrane exhibited no particular influence on the structures of the air surface, cross-section and inner pores. The experiment results confirmed that the addition of low contents of SBA-15 particles could effectively improve membrane hydrophilicity, antifouling performance, mechanical property and thermal stability, and increased membrane flux with the resistance of BSA solution above 87%. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.