Preparation and characterisation of membranes with entrapped TiO2 and preliminary photocatalytic tests

The possibility of entrapping polycrystalline TiO2 in a polymeric support, in order to couple the two unit operations, i.e. ultrafiltration and photod egradation of organic pollutants in aqueous solutions, was investigated. To this aim, polymeric membranes for ultrafiltration with entrapped TiO2 were prepared, characterised and tested. The polymeric support chosen was comme rcial polysulfone (PSf). The membrane preparation was carried out with the technique referred to as phase inversion. A three-component system, with a polymer, a solvent and a non-solvent was used. The best operative condition s were determined in order to obtain the desired membrane morphology. Perme ability measurements and photostability tests were also carried out by usin g a system under pressure. Finally, a preliminary investigation was perform ed in order to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the membranes with e ntrapped TiO2 for the oxidation of 4-nitrophenol as a model molecule in aqu eous solutions.