Abstract
Integrally skinned asymmetric (ISA) thin films, for nanofiltration (NF), were fabricated by the infusion of PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer (Pluronic F127) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) crosslinked poly (vinyl alcohol) nanocellular structure. The thin film permeation, salt rejection and chlorine resistance performance were evaluated by using indigenously fabricated NF assembly. ISA4 (0.08 wt% ZnO-NPs/Pluronic F127 6 wt%) was considered as an optimal thin film that exhibited a much higher permeation flux (1.96m3/m2/day) and salt rejection (98.7%) compared to the single layer crosslinked thin film. The chlorine exposure tests of thin films under accelerated conditions indicated that the stability of ISA4 was enhanced effectively in chlorinated water. Thin films were characterized by ATR-FTIR, SEM, AFM, and contact angle analysis. These characterizations determine the successful interactions between polymer chains and other components, morphology, topography and wettability. It was found that the thin film surface became smoother, more hydrophilic and reduced surface roughness compared to the nanocellular crosslinked thin film. The SEM micrograph analysis showed average pore size <100 nm in ISA4 thin film without any mottled surface.
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•Integrally skinned nanocellular asymmetric thin films (ISA) infused ZnO-NPs was synthesized using dissolution casting.•The desalination performance of optimal ISA4 thin film was improved flux (1.96m3/m2/day) and salt rejection (98.7%).•The chlorine resistance properties of all the ISA thin films were improved.•SEM micrographs of nanofiltration (NF) showed uniform dispersed and nano-cellular (<100 nm) structured thin films.