Fabrication and Characterization of Polyvinylidene Fluoride - Graphene Nanocomposite Membrane for VMD Desalination

چکیده مقاله

Neat and graphene-filled PVDF membranes were synthesized using phase-inversion method. XRD and SEM analyses have been carried out to determine the morphology of the fabricated membranes. XRD patterns revealed the presence of graphene nanosheets in the polymeric matrix. As a result of SEM images, the thicknesses of the neat and mixed matrix membranes were about 42 and 62 µm, respectively. The transport performance of the membranes was investigated by a vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) system. As a matter of fact, the nanoparticles incorporation into PVDF matrix gave the penetrant additional diffusion pathway and could improve the pore size, porosity, mechanical properties and morphology of the membrane. Effect of feed temperature on pure water flux was also investigated. The pure water fluxes through both the membranes have been increased with feed temperature. The maximum water flux was about 1.364 kg/m2.h obtained for the graphene-filled PVDF membrane whiles the feed temperature was 50 oC.