Enhanced Antifouling Performance of PVDF Membrane Modified With TiO 2 , MWCNT‐COOH, and Tannic Acid for Efficient Wastewater Treatment in MBR Systems

This study explores a method to improve the performance of PVDF membranes used in wastewater treatment by reducing membrane fouling. The membranes were prepared using PVDF polymer and modified using nanoparticles based on TiO 2 , MWCNT‐COOH, and TA to reduce membrane fouling. The antifouling properties were evaluated with two different solutions: a protein solution (BSA) and real‐world municipal wastewater. The given research involves preparing a PVDF membrane (M sample) and improving it with CTi (MC sample) and CTiTA (MCT sample). The base membrane (M) included 17‐wt.% PVDF with 0.5% PEG, LiCl, and double distilled water as additives. In addition, MC and MCT membranes contained 0.5% CTi and CTiTA, respectively. The characterization of membrane and nanoparticle samples was performed by ATR‐FTIR, SEM–EDX, DRS, TEM, TGA, tensile, WCA, and performance tests. According to the results, embedding membranes with CTi and CTiTA resulted in better surface hydrophilicity. The MC membrane decreased total fouling about 10.6% and increased reversible fouling and flux recovery ratio about 18.6% and 29.3% for BSA, respectively. In addition, it reduced total fouling about 11% and boosted reversible fouling and flux recovery ratio about 23.4% and 34.4% for municipal wastewater feed in the MBR process, respectively. Further modification of CTi with TA (CTiTA) gained a nanoparticle with higher hydrophilicity; results in declining the total fouling about 17.1% and climbing the reversible fouling and flux recovery ratio about 19.9% and 37% for the MCT membrane against BSA feed, respectively. In addition, the MCT diminished total fouling about 18% and enhanced reversible fouling and flux recovery ratio about 27% and 45% for municipal wastewater feed in the MBR process, respectively. This research suggests that incorporating composite nanoparticles like CTi and CTiTA into PVDF membranes is a promising approach for reducing membrane fouling in filtration processes.