Fabrication of robust homogeneous braid reinforced CA hollow fiber membranes with enhanced hydrophilicity

Abstract

Abstract Cellulose acetate (CA) membrane is usually utilized in wastewater treatment and biomedical process due to its good biocompatibility and easy processing but low flux and poor anti-fouling. The hydrophilicity and anti-fouling property of membrane could be improved through the doping of functional nanoparticles. Herein, the robust homogeneous braid reinforced (HBR) CA hollow fiber membranes with GO doping were fabricated by the continuous skin-core spinning method. The content of GO exhibited noticeable effects on the structure and property of HBR CA hollow fiber membranes. On the one hand, the neatly arranged finger-like pore structure and good permeability could be designed. On the other hand, the high protein rejection and anti-fouling property were obtained. For example, the pure water flux and BSA rejection could be obviously improved from 115.7 L·m-2·h-1 to 201.4 L·m-2·h-1, 97.2% to 99.5% respectively. The optimal GO content was 0.1 wt.% according to the assessment of flux decline coefficient, flux recovery rate and BSA rejection. Moreover, the HBR structure provided favorable interface bonding strength and excellent mechanical strength, which was suitable for the high pressure backwash and aeration process in filtration system. In a word, the HBR CA hollow fiber membrane with good hydrophilicity and anti-fouling property showed potential applications for wastewater treatment and biomedical process.