Ultrafiltration of oil/water emulsions using PVDF/PC blend membranes

M.A. MASUELLI

DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT

DESALINATION PUBL

Lugar: Hopkinton; Año: 2015 vol. 53 p. 569 - 578

1944-3994

Membranes with varying degrees of hydrophilicity made from blends of poly(vinylidenefluoride) (PVDF) and polycarbonate (PC) were prepared to recover water from emulsifiedoily wastewater. The effects of different amounts of PC content on the structure, hydrophilicity,and functionality of these PVDF/PC membranes were analyzed using contact angle measurements,scanning electron microscope and energy dispersion X-ray analysis, liquid?liquiddisplacement, and a fouling test with an oil/water emulsion. The slightly hydrophilic characterof the PC decreases the hydrophobicity of the blend membranes compared to a purePVDF membrane. Increasing the amount of PC in the casting solution causes little change inaverage pore size but a substantial change in the membrane?s porosity and surface structure,with these changes reflected in the efficiency of the membranes with respect to recoveringwater from the emulsified oily wastewater. The best performance, meaning less membranefouling and better permeate quality, was obtained using a blend membrane containing 20%PC, which achieved an initial permeate flux of 28.59L/m2 h with a limiting permeate flux of22.11L/m2 h, a COD of 88ppm in the permeate solution, and 97.8% oil retention.