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Activation of PVDF membranes through facile hydroxylation of the polymeric dope

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2017

Samer Al-Gharabli ,
Musthafa O. Mavukkandy Open the ORCID record for Musthafa O. Mavukkandy [Opens in a new window] ,
Joanna Kujawa ,
Suzana P. Nunes  and
Hassan A. Arafat
Samer Al-Gharabli
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Masdar Institute, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and Pharmaceutical and Chemical Engineering Department, German-Jordanian University, Amman 11180, Jordan
Musthafa O. Mavukkandy
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Masdar Institute, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Joanna Kujawa
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Masdar Institute, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Toruń 87-100, Poland
Suzana P. Nunes
Affiliation:
Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
Hassan A. Arafat*
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Masdar Institute, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

A method comprising a two-step alkali/acid treatment of poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymer is developed for the fabrication of flat-sheet PVDF membranes functionalized with labile hydroxyl groups. This method involves the application of a short-duration modification in alkali medium (5% KOH). Extensive characterizations were performed on the prepared membranes. Modification of the polymer altered the crystallinity of the PVDF from a mixture of both α and β phases to a predominant β phase. Lower work of adhesion of the modified membrane indicated the formation of a more hydrophobic and wetting-resistant membrane surface. Centrifugation of the polymer dope after the modification had a pronounced impact on the properties of the resultant membranes. This protocol could be utilized in fine-tuning the properties of PVDF membranes for various target-specific applications such as membrane distillation. This method can also be used in functionalizing PVDF membranes further by exploiting the labile –OH group present on the membrane surface.

Keywords

polymermicrostructuresurface chemistry
Type
Invited Feature Paper
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 32 , Issue 22 , 28 November 2017 , pp. 4219 - 4231
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Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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Footnotes

b)

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Contributing Editor: Erik G. Herbert

This paper has been selected as an Invited Feature Paper.

References

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