Abstract
Porous poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) membranes often undergo compaction in pressure driven water treatment, contributing to a reduction in water flux. Here, compaction resistance was tested by cross-linking dehydrofluorinated PVDF (PVDF with alkene functionality) with a synthesized thiol modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (thiol POSS) at 0–10 wt% via UV catalyzed thiol-ene addition. Analysis of these microfiltration membranes showed an increase in the Young's modulus from 36.60 ± 1.85 MPa (0 wt% thiol POSS) to 54.60 ± 1.97 MPa (10 wt% thiol POSS), correlating to improved mechanical properties. The pure water flux (PWF) of the membranes was found to increase with 1 wt% thiol POSS loading, then decreased with increasing thiol POSS loading up to 10 wt%, while BSA rejection decreased with 1 wt% loading of thiol POSS, then increased with thiol POSS loading thereafter. The cross-linked PVDF membrane with 10 wt% of thiol POSS was shown to possess the greatest compaction resistance, with the lowest pure water flux declines of 8.3 ± 2.04% (first pass, run 1) and 6.3 ± 2.37% (second pass, run 2) as compared to the membrane with no POSS additive at 26.3 ± 2.61 (first pass, run 1) and 12.8 ± 1.74 (second pass, run 2). The data showed that chemically cross-linking PVDF with POSS via thiol-ene addition has real potential to reduce compaction of PVDF water filtration membranes.
Published Version
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