A novel
polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) mixed matrix ultrafiltration
membrane containing reduced graphene oxide/titanium dioxide (rGO/TiO2) nanocomposite was prepared by phase inversion method. The
synthesized rGO/TiO2 was characterized by X-ray diffraction,
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy
(SEM) techniques. The prepared rGO/TiO2 blended PVDF membranes
were characterized by atomic force microscopy, SEM, water contact
angle, porosity, permeation measurements, and rejection tests. Due
to the high hydrophilicity of the rGO/TiO2 nanocomposite,
the rGO/TiO2/PVDF membranes were more hydrophilic and had
higher pure water flux and flux recovery ratio than the bare PVDF.
The blended membranes showed remarkably good properties and performance
when the rGO/TiO2 content of 0.05 wt % was added to the
casting solution. The pure water flux of the 0.05 wt % rGO/TiO2 blended membrane was increased by 54.9% compared with the
bare PVDF membrane. The antifouling study of the membranes revealed
that a 0.05 wt % rGO/TiO2 membrane had the best fouling
resistance.
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