Surface properties and interception behaviors of GO-TiO2 modified PVDF hollow fiber membrane

To investigate surface properties and interception performances of the new modified PVDF membrane coated with Graphene Oxide (GO) and nano-$TiO_2$ (for short the modified membrane) via the interface polymerization method combined with the pumping suction filtration way, filtration experiments of the modified membrane on Humic Acid (HA) were conducted. Results showed that the contact angle (characterizing the hydrophilicity) of the modified membrane decreased from $80.6{\pm}1.8^{\circ}$ to $38.6{\pm}1.2^{\circ}$. The F element of PVDF membrane surface decreased from 60.91% to 17.79% after covered with GO and $TiO_2$. O/C element mass ratio has a fivefold increase, the percentage of O element on the modified membrane surface increased from 3.83 wt% to 20.87%. The modified membrane surface was packed with hydrophilic polar groups (like -COOH, -OH, C-O, C=O, N-H) and a functional hydrophilic GO-polyamide-$TiO_2$ composite configuration. This configuration provided a rigid network structure for the firm attachment of GO and $TiO_2$ on the surface of the membrane and for a higher flux as well. The total flux attenuation rate of the modified membrane decreased to 35.6% while 51.2% for the original one. The irreversible attenuation rate has dropped 71%. The static interception amount of HA on the modified membrane was $158.6mg/m^2$, a half of that of the original one ($295.0mg/m^2$). The flux recovery rate was increased by 50%. The interception rate of the modified membrane on HA increased by 12% approximately and its filtration cycle was 2-3 times of that of the original membrane.