Synthesis of Poly (Vinylidene Fluoride)/Modified SBA-15 Nanoparticles Composite Membrane for Water Purification

Abstract

One of the methods of pollution separating from urban and industrial wastewater is the use of composite membranes based on polymer. The modified composite polymer has high mechanical resistance and improved heat, which is an appropriate option to use as a membrane infiltration method. In this study, to improve the polymer membrane of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is used the modification of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (SBA–15). The mesoporous silica nanoparticles (SBA-15) are made by the sol-gel method witch in this method is using a precursor of Tetra-ethyl-ortho silicate (TEOS) in the presence of a copolymer Pluronic P123 (as mould and for maintaining the structure after solvent exiting) and has been calcined at 600 °C. The surface modifies of SBA-15 is used from (3-chloropropyl) trimethoxysilane and Triron-100 for 24 h in the presence of argon gas by the post-synthesis method. Subsequently, the physical characteristics are investigated by using nitrogen adsorption and desorption analysis (BET), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD). The FT-IR analysis and thermal analysis confirmed the complete transmitting of mould during thermal operation. So, according to the results of nitrogen absorption and desorption, powders synthesized based on IUPAC categorization, have hysteresis IV which confirms cavities in the area of meso. Accordingly, the specific surface of the samples is 640 m2.g−1, the volume of cavities is 1.2 cm3.g−1 and the diameter of cavities is 6.2 nm. Moreover, the BJH graph indicated the cavities with a narrow size distribution. The results showed that adding a small amount of modified SBA-15 nanoparticles to PVDF can effectively increase the membrane’s hydrophilicity, mechanical properties, antifouling performance, and thermal stability, increase membrane flux and salt rejection.