The Functionalization Study of PVDF/TiO2 Hollow Fibre Membranes under Vacuum Calcination Exposure

Abstract

In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fibre membrane was modified by adding TiO2. TiO2 presence affects the membrane structure becomes more less hydrophobic which makes the membrane less fouling. Membranes were made via dry-wet spinning method and calcined under vacuum condition by furnace (100, 300, and 500 C). Besides, PVDF-TiO2 uncalcined membrane were also prepared as comparison to investigated the effect of calcination on hollow fibre membrane's functional groups. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectra indicated that all PVDF-TiO2 membranes have bands of OH in the TiO2 at ∼1600 cm-1. Peaks of α-phase PVDF crystals appeared at ∼876, ∼876, and ∼872 cm-1 for uncalcined, 100 and 300 C, while for 500 C the PVDF peak only shows at 874 cm-1. The peaks at ∼1200 cm-1 represent CF2 groups. Peaks at ∼1400 cm-1 assigned to CH2 groups, but it does not observed for 500 C. Deconvolution by Fityk software that shows calcination using vacuum condition gives the compounds gradually decomposes. At high temperature calcination lead the CH2 peak extremely lost.