Preparation of PVDF-co-PAAm membrane with robust antifouling, and antibacterial performance by blending with magnetic graphene oxide

Ultrafiltration membranes (UF) have been utilized in a variety of industrial sectors. However, the primary challenge with UF membrane is fouling. To prevent this problem, the PVDF-co-PAAm copolymer blended with magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) was prepared using a nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) approach to develop the PVDF-co-PAAm /MGO nanocomposite membrane. As a comparison, the efficiency of the membranes was assessed using four types of PVDF, PVDF-co-PAAm, PVDF-co-PAAm /GO, and PVDF-co-PAAm /MGO. The chemical structure and morphology were characterized by ATR-FTIR, XRD, FESEM, ζ-potential, and hydrophilicity. The assessment of the synthesized membranes performance was comprised permeation, antifouling, and antibacterial activities. The ATR-FTIR spectra and XRD pattern confirmed that PVDF-co-PAAm/MGO was successfully prepared. FESEM assessment confirm that the PVDF-co-PAAm/MGO membrane illustrated the ultrafiltration morphology. Membrane hydrophilicity and porous homogeneity were both boosted. A 60% improve in pure water flux, 110% improve in flux recovery ratio, and 125% improve in rejection % were attained when PVDF-co-PAAm was blended with MGO. The Rr may rise from 6.05% to 39.81%, while the Rir may decline from 53.53% to 42.16%. Additionally, the amended membrane demonstrated strong antibacterial activity, with a maximum antibacterial ratio. In conclusion, the blending of PVDF-co-PAAm with MGO might result in membranes with a robust hydrophilicity, water flux, rejection (%) and antibacterial activities.