Simple Fabrication of Polyvinylidene Fluoride/Graphene Composite Membrane with Good Lipophilicity for Oil Treatment.

Abstract

Graphene (GE) is an emerging type of two-dimensional functional nanoparticle with a tunable passageway for oil molecules. Herein, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/GE composite membranes with controllable pore structure were fabricated with a simple non-solvent-induced phase separation method. The change of crystallinity and crystal structure (α, β, γ, etc.) generated is due to the addition of GE, which benefits the design of a suitable pore structure for oil channels. Meanwhile, the hydrophobicity and thermal stability of the composite membrane were obviously enhanced. With 3 wt % GE, the contact angle was 124.6°, which was increased greatly compared to that of the GE-0 sample. Moreover, the rate of the phase transition process was affected by the concentration of casting solution, temperature, and composition of the coagulation bath. For example, the composite membrane showed better oil–water separation properties when the coagulation bath was dioctyl phthalate. In particular, the oil flux and separation efficiencies were up to 2484.08 L/m2·h and 99.24%, respectively. Consequently, PVDF/GE composite membranes with excellent lipophilicity may have good prospects for oily wastewater treatment.