Antifouling Nanofiltration Membrane Fabrication via Surface Assembling Light-Responsive and Regenerable Functional...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Membrane fouling significantly limits the lifespan and efficiency of nanofiltration (NF) membranes.
• Existing antifouling strategies often compromise the membrane's separation capabilities.
• Developing renewable antifouling solutions is crucial for sustainable membrane applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a light-responsive and regenerable functional layer for thin-film composite (TFC) NF membranes.
• To enhance antifouling properties without sacrificing water permeability and selectivity.
• To establish a facile surface modification strategy for sustainable membrane utilization.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a P-TFC NF membrane using host-guest interactions between azobenzene-labeled polymers and β-cyclodextrin.
• Evaluation of antifouling performance, flux recovery ratio (FRR), water permeability, and selectivity.
• Demonstration of layer regeneration using ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation.

Main Results:

• The P-TFC-3 membrane exhibited excellent antifouling properties with FRR > 90% after multiple fouling tests.
• Enhanced water permeability (17.9 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹) and high selectivity (α_MgSO^NaCl = 33.4) were observed.
• The functional layer was successfully regenerated multiple times using UV light, maintaining consistent performance.

Conclusions:

• The proposed host-guest interaction strategy provides an effective method for creating regenerable antifouling TFC NF membranes.
• This approach offers a sustainable solution for extending membrane service life while preserving separation efficiency.
• The light-responsive modification presents a promising pathway for advanced membrane technology.