Preparation and characterization of PVDF/CaCO3 composite membranes etched by hydrochloric acid

This study aimed to improve the pore size, porosity, and hydrophobicity of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes for desalination by vacuum membrane distillation (VMD). New membranes were prepared via etching PVDF/calcium carbonate (CaCO3) composite membranes using hydrochloric acid (HCl), depending on the chemical reaction of CaCO3 and HCl. Etched membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray...