Enhanced hydrophilicity and antibacterial activity of PVDF ultrafiltration membrane using Ag3PO4/TiO2 nanocomposite against E. coli

Ag 3 PO 4 /TiO 2 nanocomposite was fabricated by an in situ precipitation method and then blended into poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) casting solution to prepare the ultrafiltration membrane via wet phase inversion technique. The water flux and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection rate of membrane were investigated; meanwhile, the ultrafiltration membrane morphologies and structural properties were analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. Compared with the control membrane, the permeate performance of blended membranes was improved while possessing a steady BSA retention due to enhanced hydrophilicity. Mechanical tests revealed that the modified membranes exhibited a larger tensile strength and breakage elongation. SEM images and the halo zone testing were employed to assess the antibacterial performances of the nanocomposite membranes against Escherichia coli. The antibacterial tests confirmed that the modified membranes showed an effective antibacterial property against E. coli.