Photocatalytic PVDF ultrafiltration membrane incorporated with visible-light driven ternary heterojunction: pure water flux behavior

• Main Authors: Rosman, Nurafiqah, Wan Salleh, Wan Norharyati, Jaafar, Juhana, Harun, Zawati, Ismail, Ahmad Fauzi, Ismail, Nor Hafiza, Ahmad, Siti Zu Nurain, Mohd. Razali, Nur Aqilah, Awang, Nor Asikin
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: QD Chemistry
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/98920/; http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0099602

Photocatalytic PVDF-ZnO/Ag2CO3/Ag2O mixed matrix membranes (MMM) were prepared by wet-phase inversion method. Incorporating the ZnO/Ag2CO3/Ag2O photocatalyst into the membrane surface resulted in a more hydrophilic membrane surface. The PVDF-ZnO/Ag2CO3/Ag2O membrane exhibited remarkable ability on pure water flux filtration under visible light irradiation due to the photoinduced hydrophilicity of ZnO/Ag2CO3/Ag2O. Thus, when pure water is filtered under visible light (photo-filtration), the flux found slightly higher than flux in the dark. Apart of that, membranes with higher loading of ZnO/Ag2CO3/Ag2O photocatalyst, have higher flux increment during light irradiation. The highest loading of ZnO/Ag2CO3/Ag2O photocatalyst showed the highest PWF increment up to ~9.81% after 180 min of light irradiation. Throughout this study, the excellent performance of PVDF-ZnO/Ag2CO3/Ag2O membrane provided valuable insight for photocatalytic membrane application in water production field.