Preparation of PVDF membrane blended with graphene oxide-zinc sulfide (GO-ZnS) nanocomposite for improving the anti-fouling property

A novel composite membrane was prepared successfully by blending polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with the synthesized graphene oxide-zinc sulfide (GO-ZnS) nanocomposites via phase inversion method. The dispersion of GO-ZnS and its effect on the performance of the PVDF membrane were investigated using the morphology, crystal structure and chemical composition of the composite PVDF membrane. With the content of GO-ZnS in the PVDF membrane increasing from 0 to 5.0 wt%, the contact angle declined continuously and thus the hydrophilicity of membrane increased after modification. Similarly, the pure water flux of GO-ZnS/PVDF membrane reached up to 431.9 L/(m²h) when 5.0 wt% GO-ZnS was blended. All membranes presented a high bovine serum albumin (BSA) removal and the rejection was about 86.5 %. More importantly, the GO-ZnS/PVDF membrane exhibited a smaller irreversible fouling ratio and a higher flux recovery rate, revealing that blending with GO-ZnS could improve the self-cleaning under UV irradiation and the antifouling properties of PVDF membrane.