Novel polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/clinoptilolite nanocomposite membranes for
water treatment were fabricated by non-solvent-induced phase separation and
characterized with respect to their hydrophilicity, porosity, surface roughness,
thermal stability, and surface and cross-sectional morphology. All prepared membranes were evaluated in a submerged system for the removal of humic acid (HA) under various vacuum transmembrane pressure (TMP) conditions. The hydrophilicity, porosity, and thermal stability of the membranes were increased by the addition of 0.5 wt % clinoptilolite nanoparticles. A larger macrovoid appeared when clinoptilolite nanoparticles were added to the PVC membrane. Higher TMP leads
to serious fouling and the formation of a thicker foulant layer on the membrane
surface as well as less removal of HA.