Preparation and Performance of Antifouling PVC/CPVC Blend Ultrafiltration Membranes

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) were used as membrane materials to fabricate blend ultrafiltration membranes. Polyethylene glycol (PEG2000) and polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide triblock copolymer (Pluronic F127) were used as both pore forming agent and surface modifier to improve the permeability. The advantage of amphiphilic Pluronic F127 is that it enables higher −CH2–CH2–O– segment coverage on the membrane surfaces. The increase of CPVC proportion in membrane materials could improve the water fluxes of PVC/CPVC blend membranes with the slight change of protein rejection ratios. All the PVC/CPVC blend membranes with an additive of Pluronic F127 have excellent antifouling property. The blend method is an appropriate way to prepare new antifouling PVC/CPVC ultrafiltration membranes which have lower cost and better performance.