Synthesis and characterization of poly 3-methyl 2-vinyl pyridinium nitrate incorporated polyvinylidine fluoride ultrafiltration membrane for metal ion removal

• Synthesis of poly 3-methyl 2-vinyl pyridinium nitrate (P3M2VPN).
• Preparation of P3M2VPN incorporated membrane (PVDF/P3M2VPN).
• Increase in membrane porosity, hydrophilicity and decrease in mean surface-pore size.
• Removal of metal ions such as Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II) by modified PVDF membranes.

Poly 3-methyl 2-vinyl pyridinium nitrate (P3M2VPN) was successfully synthesized from 2, 3-lutidine. The structure of the compound was characterized by IR, NMR and mass spectral analysis. The P3M2VPN incorporated polyvinylidine fluoride ultrafiltration membrane (PVDF/P3M2VPN) was prepared by the phase inversion through wet process and the membranes were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy, water content, hydraulic resistance, contact angle, pure water flux, membrane, porosity and molecular weight cut-off were investigated for the influence of P3M2VPN. The intermolecular interactions between the blend membranes were established by ATR-FTIR. The membranes showed an increase in overall porosity, hydrophilicity and decrease in mean surface-pore size, with the increase of P3M2VPN content. Surface parameters of the membrane such as surface free energy, interfacial free energy, work of adhesion and spreading coefficient were calculated. The removal of heavy metal ions such as copper, lead and cadmium using modified PVDF membranes from aqueous solutions has been systematically investigated. The modified membranes exhibit excellent separation properties with high permeabilities at low trans-membrane pressures. The removal of dissolved metal ions is more by P3M2VPN enhanced structure than PVDF membrane.