A　novel　polyvinyl　chloride　(PVC)　membrane　was　modified　with　graphene　oxide　(GO)　via　phase　inversion　method　to　improve　its　hydrophilicity　and　mechanical　properties.　The　GO　presented　a　large　amount　of　hydrophilic　groups　after　the　modification　through　the　modified　Hummers　method.　It　was　observed　that　with　the　addition　of　low　fraction　of　GO　powder,　the　GO/PVC　hybrid　membranes　exhibited　a　significant　enhancement　in　hydrophilicity,　water　flux,　and　mechanical　properties.　With　optimal　dosage　(0.1 wt%),　the　pure　water　flux　of　GO/PVC　membrane　increased　from　232.6 L/(m2 h bar)　to　430.0 L/(m2 h bar)　and　the　tensile　strength　increased　from　231.3 cN　to　305.3 cN.　The　improved　properties　of　the　PVC/GO　hybrid　membranes　are　mainly　attributed　to　the　strong　hydrophilicity　of　functional　groups　on　the　GO　surface,　indicating　that　GO　has　a　promising　candidate　for　modification　of　PVC　ultrafiltration　membranes　in　wastewater　treatment.　©　2016　Elsevier　Inc.