Cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol microspheres (PVA-MS) for modification of terylene microporous membranes self-assembled by a dynamic layer-by-layer technique

This paper introduces a versatile approach for the modification of terylene microporous membrane by PVA-MS layer-by-layer self-assembling to improve its filterability. The preparation conditions including filtration time of the first HTAB layer, reaction time and bilayer number were investigated. The results suggested that suitable filtration time of the first HTAB layer was 8 min and the reaction time was 10 min with suitable HTAB/PVA-MS bilayer numbers. Membrane chemistry, morphological changes and hydrophilicity of the composite membrane were characterized in details by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, scanning electron micrograph and water dynamic contact angle measurements. Results revealed that PVA-MS could be adsorbed mainly on the surface of the terylene microporous membrane and dynamic contact angle on the terylene microporous membrane surface decreased with the increase of bilayer numbers indicating an enhanced hydrophilicity for the modified terylene microporous membrane. Backwash experiments of composite membranes exhibited much higher stability of the HTAB/PVA-MS active layer. The permeation flux of activated sludge was measured to evaluate the anti-fouling property of composite membranes, and the results showed an enhancement of anti-fouling property of modified composite membranes.