Abstract
Pluronic F127 (PF127-) and PF127/bentonite-blended PVC ultrafiltration membranes are prepared in salt coagulation baths involving NaCl, KCl, NH4Cl, MgCl2 and CaCl2. Saturated KCl-coagulation bath delivers super-hydrophilic membrane with improved surface-porosity (10.64 %), pore density (49.26 mu m(-2)), roughness (51.12 nm) and hydrophilicity (contact angle <10 degrees), which endows remarkable enhancement of pure water flux at 100 kPa (i.e., 1610.0 Lm(-2) h(-1)) and antifouling performance (flux recovery ratio: 75.8 %). Membrane performance is further improved by maximizing permeate flux and oil rejection simultaneously for actual oilfield produced water treatment using PVC-, PF127- and bentonite-loading, feed pH and feed temperature as decision variables and Pareto-optimal solution is obtained. (C) 2020 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.