Incorporation of graphene oxide/nanodiamond nanocomposite into PVC ultrafiltration membranes

Polyvinylchloride (PVC) ultrafiltration membranes with different amounts of graphene oxide-nanodiamond (GO-ND) nanocomposite were prepared via phase inversion method. The results of XRD and FTIR analyses showed that GO-ND nanocomposite was successfully synthesized and FESEM images showed that ND nanoparticles were uniformly attached on GO nanosheets with no agglomeration. Then, fabricated PVC/GO-ND membranes were characterized using a set of analyses including FESEM, AFM, Raman spectroscopy, contact angle, pure water flux, abrasion resistance, tensile strength, elongation and pore size distribution. The results showed that the hydrophilicity and surface roughness of membranes were improved with addition of GO-ND nanocomposite. Moreover, pure water flux was increased from 200 Lm(-2) h(-1) for neat PVC membrane to 440 Lm(-2) h(-1) for 0.15 wt. % GO-ND embedded membrane due to the enhancement of hydrophilicity and number of pores on surface surface of nanocomposite membranes. Besides, tensile strength and abrasion resistance of membranes were improved because of the reinforcement effect of GO-ND nanocomposite which can be attributed to the uniform dispersion of nanocomposite throughout PVC matrix. Finally, performance of membranes was evaluated in filtration of 1.0 gL(-1) BSA solution and it was revealed that antifouling properties and BSA rejection of membranes were enhanced with increasing GO-ND content up to 0.10 wt. % and then were decreased. (C) 2019 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.