High performance filtration nanofibrous membranes based on hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) copolymer

• A new method was invented to prepare PVA-co-PE nanofiber and membrane.
• The membrane possesses properties of hydrophilic, high flux and large porosity.
• The membrane has better performances compared with commercial membrane.
• The rejection rate of the membranes to TiO2 suspension (100 nm) was above 99%.
• Cake layer was the main reason causing the membrane fouling.

A novel high performance hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) (PVA-co-PE) nanofiber membrane for filtration media was prepared and characterized in this study. The PVA-co-PE nanofibers for the membrane preparation were fabricated based on a high throughput, cost effective and environmental friendly method developed by us. The basic properties of PVA-co-PE nanofibrous membrane and commercially available membrane (mixed cellulose ester membrane) including morphology, pore size distribution, contact angle, mechanics, water flux and filtration efficiency were investigated. The rejection rate of PVA-co-PE nanofibrous membrane (nanofiber density is 3 g/m2) to TiO2 suspension was above 99%, and such unique hydrophilic nanofibrous membrane exhibited a flux rate significantly higher than the commercial microfiltration membrane. The results indicated that PVA-co-PE nanofibrous membrane prepared by this method was a hydrophilic and high performance membrane which could be used in the microfiltration fields.

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