New PVDF membranes: The effect of plasma surface modification on retention in nanofiltration of aqueous solution containing organic compounds

New nanofiltration membranes were prepared by non-solvent-induced phase inversion from a PVDF/DMF/water system. The effect of exposure time before coagulation on the membrane characteristics (morphology, thickness, overall porosity, tensile strength) was investigated. PVDF membrane prepared at a fixed exposure time of 45 s (PF45) was further plasma surface modified (RF 13.56 MHz) (PF45psm), introducing amino groups on the membrane. The performances of PF45, PF45psm and of a commercial nanofiltration membrane (N30F) were tested in the removal of two dyes from aqueous solution, characterized by different charge and molecular weight (congo red and methylene blue). The observed rejections depended more on the charge of the compound than on their molecular weights and results were optimized for the plasma modified membrane (PF45psm) with respect to unmodified (PF45) and commercial N30F membranes. In particular, methylene blue was retained for 100% by PF45psm with a relative flux of 65% compared to 38% of rejection and 59% of relative flux observed for N30F.