Evaluation of antifouling and chemical resistance of flower membrane prepared using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) process

Abstract

In this study, we discussed the characterization and water treatment properties of the newly designed flower type membrane which has multi-bore structures prepared by the thermally induced phase separation process. The flower membrane for water treatment purposes was made of hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride polymer. The antifouling characteristics during the water treatment were studied using bovine serum albumin as a model compound and the chemical resistance was evaluated after long-term impregnation in hypochlorous acid (NaOCl) solution to understand the long-term stability of the membranes. Water permeability and mechanical strength of the membranes after prolonged chemical exposure was measured to observe the change in mechanical property and long-term performance of the membrane. Zeta potential measurements were used to find how the surface pollution affected the membrane performance and morphologies of the surface and crosssection of the membrane were confirmed by using scanning electron microscopy. To understand the efficiency of chemicals in the actual process, chemically enhanced backwashing was also carried out using citric acid and sodium hypochlorite in the lab-scale water treatment process.