An innovative matrix composed of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane modified by adding alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles was prepared. Pd/Fe nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully immobilized in the PVDF center dot Al2O3 membrane, which was initially crosslinked by polyacrylic acid (PAA). The PVDF center dot Al2O3 membrane and the Pd/Fe NPs immobilized in PVDF center dot Al2O3 were characterized by scanning electronic microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Studies showed that the amount of Fe immobilized in the PVDF center dot Al2O3 membrane was four times more than the amount in a traditional PVDF membrane carrier of the same surface size. Pd/Fe NPs immobilized in PVDF center dot Al2O3 exhibited high efficiency and stability in terms of dechlorination of monochloroacetic acid (MCAA). The effects of several important experimental parameters, including the added Al2O3 amount in PVDF, ferrous concentration in crosslinking solution and Pd content in Pd/Fe NPs were investigated. The reasons behind the improved properties of the PVDF center dot Al2O3 membrane were discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.