Silica-supported polyvinylpyrrolidone filtration membranes

A hybrid ceramic-polymeric membrane was developed by the growth of covalently-bonded polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) chains from the surface of a porous silica support membrane via a graft polymerization process. These ceramic-supported polymeric (CSP) membranes can be produced with variable surface density and length of the terminally anchored polymer chains. Hydraulic permeability measurements demonstrated the effect of the grafted chain density and length on the water permeability of the CSP membranes. The potential application of these CSP membranes for the treatment of oil-in-water emulsions, was evaluated in cross-flow filtration experiments. This preliminary evaluation indicated improved performance of a CSP membrane, relative to an unmodified support, since the CSP membrane produced a lower permeate concentration at an equivalent permeability. The improved selectivity and reduced fouling tendency is attributed to the increased hydrophilicity of the membrane surface provided by the grafted PVP chains.