Preparation of a novel anti-fouling β-cyclodextrin–PVDF membrane

As part of this work, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were prepared via a phase inversion method. A novel β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)–PVDF membrane was prepared via an interfacial reaction, using Trimesoyl Chloride (TMC) and β-CD as cross-linking and modification agents, respectively. The membranes were modified by a simple dip-coating method. The results of comparison between the modified and unmodified membranes by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) methods confirmed successful grafting of β-CD on the membrane surfaces. The morphology of the membrane was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic-force microscopy (AFM). The roughness of PVDF membranes increased after their surfaces were grafted with β-CD. It was also found that β-CD–PVDF membranes had higher permeate flux and hydrophilicity than those of the pristine PVDF membranes. Furthermore, in protein fouling experiments, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a protein model solution. Modified membranes exhibited a higher flux recovery ratio. The experiment showed that the anti-fouling performance of β-CD–PVDF membranes was more effective in reducing the irreversible membrane fouling. The results of this study hold promise for useful applications of β-CD–PVDF membranes in membrane separation areas.