A Facile and Scalable Fabrication Procedure for Thin-Film Composite Membranes: Integration of Phase Inversion and Interfacial Polymerization

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06426
• Publication Date: 2020-01-09T14:54:41Z
• Authors: Yanling Liu; Junyong Zhu; Junfeng Zheng; Xiaoqi Gao; Jing Wang; Xiaomao Wang; Yuefeng F. Xie; Xia Huang; Bart Van der Bruggen
• Keywords: Interfacial polymerization; Phase inversion

Conventional dense thin-film composite (TFC) membranes evince a universally low water permeability, the increase of which typically relies on introducing additional transport channels based intricate steps within membrane preparation process. In this study, we reported novel and simplified procedure for fabrication high-performance TFC membranes. Specifically, dissolution aqueous monomers in casting solution was utilized following interfacial polymerization (IP). Since diffused to bath during phase inversion, control precipitation time enabled an effective regulation monomer concentration formed polymeric substrates, where IP reaction initiated by addition organic phase. The entire uniform embedment inside substrates contributed formation ultrathin smooth selective layers. An excellent separation performance (i.e., permeability: 34.7 L m–2 h–1 bar–1; Na2SO4 rejection: ∼96%) could be attained using two types piperazine β-cyclodextrin), demonstrating effectiveness universality method. Compared conventional immersion-based process, shows distinct advantages reducing usage, shortening production cycle, achieving more superior performance, is highly promising large-scale manufacture.