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Preparation of anti-fouling and high-flux Fe2O3/Al2O3 ceramic composite ultrafiltration membranes with the aiding of polyvinyl alcohol

Authors： WEI Jingru1,2, CHEN Guowei1, CHEN Xianfu1, KE Wei1, QIU Minghui1, CAI Daniu3, CHEN Jie3, FAN Yiqun1

Units： 1. State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering for Materials, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816,China; 2. Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, Quanzhou 362801, China; 3. Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou 362000, China

KeyWords： iron oxide; ceramic composite membrane; polyvinyl alcohol; anti-fouling; oil-water separation

ClassificationCode：TQ174

year,volume(issue):pagination： 2026,46(1):67-77

Abstract：

Ceramic membranes have attracted much attention in the treatment of oily wastewater due to their advantages such as narrow pore size distribution and high hydrophilicity. To develop anti-fouling and high-flux ceramic membranes, Fe2O3 with high hydrophilicity was used as the membrane layer material in this study. By combining the steric hindrance effect of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), an intact and defect-free Fe2O3 membrane layer was prepared on a macroporous Al2O3 support. The effects of PVA addition level on the sol and membrane layer were systematically investigated. The results showed that an intact Fe2O3/Al2O3 ceramic composite ultrafiltration membrane was obtained when the PVA addition level was 1.0% (mass fraction), with a molecular weight cut-off of about 450 kDa, a corresponding Stock size of about 26 nm, and a high pure water permeance of 6 800 L/(m2·h· MPa). The test results of contact angle and surface tension showed that the composite membrane had excellent anti-fouling performance and hydrophilic properties. In the filtration and separation of 1 000 mg/L oil-in-water emulsion, the removal rate of oil droplets by the composite membrane was close to 100%, and the flux was stable at about 430 L/(m2·h), which was almost twice of the flux of Al2O3 microfiltration membrane. After simple rinsing with pure water, the flux of the composite membrane could be restored to about 70%, indicating its excellent cleanability and anti-fouling performance. The Fe2O3/Al2O3 ceramic composite membrane prepared in this study shows potential in oily wastewater treatment, and is expected to provide technical reference for industrial application.

Funds：

国家重点研发计划项目（2022YFB3805001）；清源创新实验室重大项目（00122003）；吉安市“揭榜挂帅”项目（pzzy-wtht-20220117014）

AuthorIntro：

卫晶茹（1999-），女，山西运城人，硕士研究生，主要研究方向为分离膜的制备与应用

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