Mixed Matrix Membranes from Polyvinylchloride and Manganese Organic Complex Compound for Fouling & Viral Resistance

Fouling and virus resistance membranes were prepared by the blending of polyvinylchloride (PVC) with a solution (NS) of manganese acetylacetonate Mn(acac)3. Mixed matrix membranes PVC/Mn(acac)3 exhibit enhancement in properties and performance compared with the blank membrane. In a comparison between prepared mixed matrix membranes, U4 which was prepared from 14 wt% PVC with 1wt% nano solution of Mn(acac)3 exhibits the highest mechanical properties compared with blank membrane and other prepared mixed matrix membranes U3 (15% PVC &1%NS), U5 (14% PVC & 0.5% NS), U6 (14% PVC & 0.2% NS), and U7 (14% PVC & 1.2% NS). The addition of Mn(acac)3 nano-solution to polymeric solution improves the hydrophilicity of the prepared membranes, where the blank membrane U1 ( 16% PVC) exhibits a contact angle of 127.1°±0.5° compared with 40.1°±0.1° for U7 and 48.5°± 0.1° for U4. Also, the membranes' performance was improved, where U1 (blank) provides permeate flux of 65, 51, 40, and 26 L/m2.h and U4 provides 90, 86, 76, and 73 L/m2.h for separation of various concentrations of humic acid 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 1 g/L respectively, A virus removal test was carried out on real sewage wastewater. U4 provides 100% removal for all virus removal, while U1 provides 100% removal for rotavirus only. The fouling test results indicate that U4 exhibits antifouling properties, where the flux recovery ratio (FRR) was 99.47%. So, the mixed matrix membrane U4 can be considered a fouling & virus resistance membrane.