Fabrication and properties of ultrafiltration membranes composed of polysulfone and poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone) grafted silica nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of membrane science Vol. 444; pp. 318 - 326
• Main Authors: Song, H.J., Kim, C.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-10-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: artificial membranes; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Exact sciences and technology; Flux; Fouling; Fouling resistance; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; General and physical chemistry; Hydrophilicity; Membranes; Nanoparticles; nonionic surfactants; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Polysulfone; PVP-g-silica nanoparticles; silica; Silicon dioxide; solutes; transmission electron microscopy; Ultrafiltration; Ultrafiltration membrane; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Hydrophilicity; Polysulfone; PVP-g-silica nanoparticles; Fouling resistance; Ultrafiltration membrane; Binary compound; Fouling; Sulfone polymer; Nanoparticle; Silica; Hydrophily; Membrane separation; Ultrafiltration; Pyrrolidone(vinyl) polymer; Membrane
• ISSN: 0376-7388; 1873-3123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2013.05.024

Membranes for ultrafiltration were prepared from polysulfone (PSf) composites with poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone) grafted silica nanoparticles (PVP-g-silica). For the synthesis of PVP-g-silica, hydroxyl terminated silica nanoparticles were reacted with (3-methacryloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (γ-MPS) to form γ-MPS terminated silica nanoparticles (silica-MPS), which were further reacted with VP monomer. Formation of PVP-g-silica was confirmed by FT-IR, XPS, TGA, FE-SEM, and HR-TEM. PSf/PVP-g-silica membranes exhibited higher water flux than PSf membranes without any loss in solute rejection for membranes containing less than or equal to 5wt% of PVP-g-silica. The water flux of a membrane containing 1wt% PVP-g-silica was 2.3 times higher than that of PSf membrane. The hydrophilicity of the PSf/PVP-g-silica membrane also increased with increasing PVP-g-silica content. The hydrophilicity of the PSf/PVP membrane decreased with increasing retention time in a water bath, while the hydrophilicity of the PSf/PVP-g-silica membrane did not change with retention time. PSf/PVP-g-silica membranes exhibited enhanced fouling resistance in fouling experiments using nonionic surfactants.
•Ultrafiltration membranes were prepared from PSf/PVP-g-silica nanoparticle composites.•Membranes exhibited enhanced water flux without any loss in solute rejection.•The hydrophilicity of the membrane did not change with retention time in water bath.•Membranes also exhibited enhanced fouling resistance.