Effect of TiO₂ Nanoparticle Incorporation on the Hydrophilicity and Stability of NIPS-Fabricated PVDF Membranes for Methylene Blue Removalthylene Blue Removal

Andera Lestari; Ian Kurniawan; Dui Yanto Rahman

doi:10.31851/bdqahj97

Authors

Andera Lestari Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas PGRI Palembang.
Ian Kurniawan Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Informatics, Universitas PGRI Palembang.
Dui Yanto Rahman Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas PGRI Palembang.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31851/bdqahj97

Keywords:

PVDF, TiO₂, hidrofilisitas, stabilitas membran, fouling, Methylene Blue.

Abstract

Water pollution resulting from the presence of synthetic dyes such as Methylene Blue has become a serious environmental concern due to its high stability, toxicity, and resistance to natural degradation. Membrane-based separation technology is considered a promising approach for treating colored wastewater; however, the application of Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) membranes is still limited by their inherent hydrophobic nature, which leads to fouling and a decline in filtration performance during operation. This study aims to investigate the effect of varying concentrations of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles on the hydrophilicity and operational stability of PVDF membranes fabricated via the Non-Solvent Induced Phase Separation (NIPS) method. PVDF–TiO₂ composite membranes were prepared with TiO₂ loadings of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% relative to the mass of PVDF. Membrane hydrophilicity was characterized using contact angle measurements, while membrane stability was evaluated through repeated filtration tests using a Methylene Blue solution. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of TiO₂ significantly enhances membrane hydrophilicity, as indicated by a reduction in contact angle compared to pristine PVDF membranes. The membrane containing 5% TiO₂ exhibited the highest hydrophilicity, reflected by the lowest contact angle value. Improved hydrophilicity contributed to enhanced operational stability by reducing fouling tendency during the filtration process. However, excessive TiO₂ loading led to nanoparticle agglomeration, which diminished the effectiveness of hydrophilicity enhancement. Overall, the findings indicate that PVDF membrane modification with TiO₂ is an effective strategy to improve hydrophilicity and maintain membrane performance stability in Methylene Blue removal applications.

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