PVDF based Nanocomposite Membranes: Application towards Wastewater treatment

Abstract

Water is precious natural resource on earth but rapid industrialization and effluent discharge from domestic, agriculture and municipal wastes is polluting water continuously. Membrane technology provide solution to water related problems and used as an attractive tool for removal of pollutants from water. Different types of polymeric membranes are used for wastewater treatment but certain drawbacks are related to polymeric membranes such as hydrophobicity, fouling and low mechanical strength. Incorporation of nanoparticle in polymeric membranes enhances the membrane properties. Recently nanocomposite membranes are developed that increased hydrophilicity, improved mechanical properties and enhanced rejection efficiencies of polymeric membranes. Among different types of polymeric membranes, polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposites membranes are widely used for removing various contaminants from wastewater. It is reported that polyvinylidene fluoride based nanocomposite membranes possess good separation efficiency for the removal of different pollutants. In this review several polyvinylidene fluoride membranes incorporated with metal oxide such as titanium dioxide, aluminium oxide, silicon oxide, zinc oxide, carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide based nanocomposite membranes have been discussed for wastewater treatment. The current study objective is to summarize the applications of polyvinylidene fluoride based nanocomposite membranes for the removal of different pollutants from wastewater.