This study describes the preparation, characterization, and evaluation of performance of blend polyethersulfone/titanium dioxide nanotubes (PES/TiO2NTs) membranes. TiO2NTs were synthesized via hydrothermal process and used in preparation of blend PES/TiO2NTs membranes by phase inversion process. The effects of embedding TiO2 nanotubes on membrane morphology, mechanical properties and performance were presented. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images displayed a typical asymmetric membrane structure with a dense top layer, a porous sub-layer, and fully developed macropores at the bottom of PES/TiO2NTs membranes due to the migration of TiO2NTs to membrane surface during the phase inversion process. Contact angle measurements indicated that the hydrophilicity of the membrane was improved by adding TiO2NTs. Using vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) application, the results indicated that the membrane performance was improved, particularly, permeate flux and salt rejection %. The mathematical model of VIVID was applied to determine the highest performance of the membrane at the optimum conditions. The experimental results indicated that using 0.53% TiO2NTs in membrane preparation solution; it was possible to obtain NF/RO blend membrane with high performance, where the salt rejection % increased to 97% with permeate flux 18.2 kg/m(2) h. These results agree well the results of the VMD model. (c) 2014 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.