Development of Novel Nano-ZnO Enhanced Polymeric Membranes for Water Purification

Abstract

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were treated using three different polymers: polysulfone (PSF), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). 10 wt% of ZnO NPs and ternary polymer-blended membrane were prepared by a simple and effective method based on ultrasonication. A highly-dispersed and stable polymeric membrane based on ZnO NPs was obtained. This polymer blended based nanocomposite (NC) has proven to have important industrial applications. The thermal stability of the pure polymer blends and ternary polymer blends/ZnO NPs was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry. The morphology and the structural analysis of the resultant NCs were then evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy. Molecular weight cut-off test was applied to study the rejection behavior of the membranes. The best results were achieved by PSF@PVP@PVDF–ZnO NP-incorporated membrane when the durability test was performed; it was observed that the samples were not swollen for 45 days when kept at pH 7. The experimental results showed that ZnO NPs were dispersed homogeneously in the ternary polymer blend matrix in nanoscale and enhanced the chemical and thermal stability of the membranes. Graphical Abstract: Fabrication of PSF/PVP/PVDF–ZnO NP-blende membrane on glass plate using a film casting knife. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.