Preparation and characterization of PVDF hybrid membranes by embedding nanomaterials as silica gel and clay: evaluation of the removal efficiency of nickel and copper ions from water

The aim of this research is to study the effect of silica gel and montmorillonite clay (maghnite), often used as adsorbents in chemical applications, on the structure of hybrid poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes. The membranes were synthesized using the precipitation-phase inversion method. In order to recognize the different structural changes of the PVDF in the samples various characterization techniques were tested, such as the contact angle, the scanning electron micros-copy, the attenuated total reflectance-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, porosity, measure-ment of pore size and measurements of hydraulic permeability. The review of the results allowed us to understand the effects of silica gel and maghnite on the PVDF membranes in terms of crystal phases transition, hydrophobic character, porosity, morphology and pure water permeability. The synthesized membranes were tested for the removal of copper and nickel from aqueous solution.