Photocatalytic and antimicrobial efficacy of PVDF/TiO2 membranes fabricated by solution blow spinning

Abstract

AbstractWith its ability to purify water and treat wastewater, photocatalytic membranes have become a promising solution. The membrane's unique properties allow for the separation of solid compounds and the degradation of organic materials through photocatalytic and antibacterial means. Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/titanium oxide (PVDF/TiO2) composite remain the materials of choice for making these membranes due to their economy, effectiveness, safety, and durability. In this work a photocatalytic membrane reactor (PMR) system was developed using PVDF/TiO2 membranes fabricated by the solution blow spinning (SBS) process. Obtaining photocatalytic membranes using this method is an efficient and ecological route that overcomes the disadvantage of separating the photocatalyst after the treatment is complete. The results of PMR system showed that the PVDF/TiO2 membrane could effectively remove total coliforms and E. coli from polluted water. After 10 min of contaminated water circulation through the PMR system, the presence of pathogens was not detected, indicating the efficiency of the obtained membranes.