Investigation of physicochemical and filtration performances of Ag-doped PVDF-cellulose composites prepared by different precipitation methods

In this study, the physical and filtration properties of PVDF-Cellulose polymeric composites containing silver particles were prepared with two different methods and their structure were investigated. In the first method, precipitation with NaBH4 in solution medium (method I), and in the second method, composites were prepared according to phase separation by mixing previously precipitated powder. The molecular interactions of the prepared samples were analysed by FTIR spectroscopy, and the surface properties were imaged by SEM device. Changes in the thermal resistance of the composites were investigated by TG-DTA analysis. Filtration properties of flat-shaped composites were evaluated according to pure water flux and methyl orange model pollution removal performance. Thanks to the homogeneous pore distribution of the composites prepared by the solution precipitation method, the pure water flux of 53 Lm-2h-1bar-1 and the MO rejection efficiency were calculated as 46.5% for AgP1. The formation of contamination on the membrane surfaces were analysed and the composite prepared by method I had been found as least rough surface. It was understood that the preparation methods of the composites are the effective variables in porosity, water retention and filtration efficiency.