• Korean Membrane Journal
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2007

To prepare chemically stable asymmetric microporous membranes with a hydrophilic surface, which would be expected to have better antifouling properties, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blend membranes were prepared by the phase inversion process. PVDF mixture solutions in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) blended with several polar potential ionic polymers such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (NIPAM) were used for the formation of the PVDF blend membranes. They were then characterized with several analytical methods such as FESEM, FTIR, contact angle measurement, pore size distribution and permeability measurement. Regardless of different polar polymers blended, they all showed a finger-like structure with more hydrophilic surface than the pristine PVDF membrane. For all the PVDF blend membrane, due to the polar potential ionic polymers used, the flux of those was improved. Especially the PVDF blend membrane with NIPAM showed the highest flux among the membranes prepared. Also antifouling property of the PVDF membrane was improved by the use of the polar polymers.

• Korean Membrane Journal
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.27-33
• /
• 2007

PVDF membrane formation via TIPS was performed for PVDF/DBP and PVDF/DMP systems. PVDF/DBP system showed solid-liquid phase separation behavior, while PVDF/DMP system has liquid-liquid phase separation characteristic as well as solid-liquid phase separation characteristic. PVDF contents and cooling conditions had great influence on structure, and the effects of each parameter were examined. Spherulitic structure was obtained due to the dominant PVDF crystallization. Diluent rejected to the outside of spherulite occupied the surface of the PVDF spherulites to result in the microporous spherulite formation and micro-void between spherulites. PVDF/DMP system had competitive solid-liquid and liquid-liquid phase separation depending on the cooling path.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.434-442
• /
• 2021

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane has a good membrane durability because of its high mechanical resistance, thermal and chemical stability. However, the strong hydrophobic property of PVDF membrane can induce a low water permeability and easy fouling by proteins and organic matters. In order to improve the anti-fouling properties of PVDF membrane, the PVDF mixed matrix asymmetric membranes impregnated with biofunctional material 𝛽-cyclodextrin (𝛽-CD) in the membrane structure were prepared by phase inversion method. The membrane filtration experiments of pure water and BSA solution were performed using the PVDF/𝛽-CD mixed matrix asymmetric membranes prepared according to the 𝛽-CD contents. The experiments showed that the introduction of 𝛽-CD into the PVDF polymer matrix contributed to increase in the hydrophilic property of the PVDF membranes, and this led to the reduction of contact angles and improvement of anti-fouling properties. The PVDF/𝛽-CD membrane which was prepared using the dope solution with a 2 wt% 𝛽-CD content represented 64 L/m²·h of pure water flux, 95% of BSA rejection and maximum 80% of flux enhancements compared to flux results of the pristine PVDF membrane.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.109-122
• /
• 2014

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membrane is widely used for water treatment. However, the weak mechanical strength of PVDF limits its application. To enhance its tensile strength, a double-layer composite hollow fiber membrane, with PVDF and polyetherimide as the external and inner layers, respectively, was successfully prepared through phase inversion technique. The effects of additive content, air gap distance, N,N-dimethyl-acetamide content in the inner core liquid, and the temperature of external coagulation bath on the membrane structure, permeation flux, rejection, tensile strength, and porosity were determined. Experimental results showed that the optimum preparation conditions for the double-layer composite hollow fiber membrane were as follows: PEG-400 and PEG-600, 5 wt%; air gap distance, 10 cm; inner core liquid and the external coagulation bath should be water; and temperature of the external coagulation bath, 40 C. A single layer PVDF hollow fiber membrane (without PEI layer) was also prepared under optimum conditions. The double-layer composite membrane remarkably improved the tensile strength compared with the single-layer PVDF hollow fiber membrane. The permeation flux, rejection, and porosity were also slightly enhanced. High-tensile strength hollow fiber PVDF ultrafiltration membrane can be fabricated using the proposed technique.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2002.07a
• /
• pp.59-101
• /
• 2002

PVDF is good material for a hollow fiber membrane with high porosity and excellent hydrophobicity. Asymmetric PVDF hollow fiber membranes were prepared by the Loeb-Sourirajan phase inversion method. Asymmetric PVDF hollow fiber membranes could be controlled in pore size and porosity using various additives(LiCl, ZnCl$_2$) and internal coagulants (water, EtOH/water, and DMAc/water mixture). $CO_2$removal efficiency of asymmetric PVDF hollow fiber membranes was 1.2 times high than that of commercialized PP hollow fiber membranes at MEA 5wt% solution. $CO_2$flux of asymmetric PVDF hollow fiber membranes was 2.5 times higher than that of commercialized PP hollow fiber membranes. $CO_2$removal efficiency and absorption rate of asymmetric PVDF hollow fiber membranes were 30 times higher than those of packed column at absorbent $H_2O$. $CO_2$flux of asymmetric PVDF hollow fiber membranes at MEA 5wt% solution was 48 times higher than that of pure water. In the case of MEA 5wt% solution used as an absorbent, the $CO_2$absorption rate and removal efficiency of PVDF hollow fiber membrane were 2.3 times higher than that of a packed column.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.148-156
• /
• 2012

In this research, the application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) modified PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) membrane was tested as a simply and beginning attempt to overcome membrane fouling because CNTs importantly affect the transport of natural organic matter (NOM). Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) as the representative of NOM was selected and its sorption results with single-walled CNT (SWCNT), multi-walled CNT (MWCNT), and oxidized MWCNT (O-MWCNT) were obtained through the batch experiment. SRFA sorption isotherms had a strong nonlinearity and its sorption capacity followed the order O-MWCNT < MWCNT < SWCNT. The adsorbed mass of SRFA on each CNT decreased as a function of pH due to their charge repulsion. For the CNT-PVDF membrane filtration experiments, the suspended CNT solution (10 mg/40 mL) was incorporated into $0.45{\mu}m$-PVDF membrane and 5 mg/L of SRFA solution was monitored using UV detector connected with high pressure pump after passing through CNT-PVDF membrane. The SRFA removal efficiency by MWCNT-PVDF membrane was the strongest among other modified membranes. This suggests that the CNT modified microfiltration (MF) membrane might effectively and selectively apply to treat the contaminated water including organic compounds in the presence of NOM.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.377-382
• /
• 2023

In this study, a PEBAX/PVDF composite membrane was fabricated, and its pervaporation performance was tested in an ethanol/water mixture. In addition, we attempted to improve the pervaporation performance of the composite membrane by forming a ZIF-8 layer on the surface of the PVDF substrate. The thickness of selective layer was optimized by comparing the pervaporation performance depending on the PEBAX thickness. A pervaporation test was performed on the Ethanol/Water mixture. As a result, the composite membrane using PVDF substrate with ZIF-8 layer had a flux of 1.98 kg/m²h and separation factor of 3.88, showing higher values of both permeation flux and selectivity than the composite membrane using bare PVDF substrate.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.287-298
• /
• 2019

Lotus leaf has a special dual micro and nano surface structure which gives its highly hydrophobic surface characteristics and so-called self cleaning effect. In order to endow PVDF hollow fiber membrane with this special structure and improve the hydrophobicity of membrane surface, PVDF hollow fiber composite membranes was obtained through the immersion coating of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) dilute solution on the outside surface of PVDF support membrane. The prepared PVDF composite membranes were used in the vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) for the desalination. The effects of PVDF-HFP dilute solution concentration in the dope solution and coating time on VMD separation performance was studied. Membranes were characterized by SEM, WCA measurement, porosity, and liquid entry pressure of water. VMD test was carried out using $35g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NaCl aqueous solution as the feed solution at feed temperature of $30^{\circ}C$ and the permeate pressure of 31.3 kPa. The vapour flux reached a maximum when PVDF-HFP concentration in the dilute solution was 5 wt% and the coating time was kept in the range of 10-60 s. This was attributed to the well configuration of micro-nano rods which was similar with the dual micro-nano structure on the lotus leaf. Compared with the original PVDF membrane, the salt rejection can be well maintained which was greater than 99.99 % meanwhile permeation water conductivity was kept at a low value of $7-9{\mu}S{\cdot}cm^{-1}$ during the continuous testing for 360 h.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.212-221
• /
• 2009

This study focuses on preparation of PVDF/PDMS composite membranes to effectively separate butanol from water-butanol mixture using pervaporation. We prepared various composite membranes by changing PVDF concentration of support layer and PDMS cross-linking condition of active layer. Pervaporation performance was tested by measuring butanol flux and separation factor with various cases of butanol concentration, temperature, and flow rate of feed. As results, performance of our novel PVDF/PDMS membranes surpasses that of PVDF/POMS membrane, manufactured by GKSS (Germany), in term of butanol flux, permeate concentration, and separation factor.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.216-222
• /
• 2015

The method measuring LEP (liquid entry pressure) was optimized to evaluate the wettabilities of hydrophobic membranes which might affect long-term durability of membrane in MD (membrane distillation) process. Conductivity of the permeate was monitored to measure the LEPs of PE (polyethylene) and PVDF (polyvinylidene di-fluoride) hollow fiber membranes from highly concentrated synthetic feed water of 20 wt% NaCl. Holding time over 5 min and the ratio of membrane area to the tank volume more than $10m^2/m^3$ were required to ensure LEP value.