Multirole Regulations of Interfacial Polymerization Using Poly(acrylic acid) for Nanofiltration Membrane Development
Jincheng Ding1, Huiqing Wu1, Peiyi Wu1
1Key Laboratory of Science & Technology of Eco-Textile, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Center for Advanced Low-Dimension Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|October 29, 2021
Summary
Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) additive controls interfacial polymerization (IP) for enhanced nanofiltration (NF) membranes. This method improves water permeability and fouling resistance, offering a simple route to high-performance NF membranes.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Controlled interfacial polymerization (IP) is crucial for high-performance nanofiltration (NF) membranes.
- Monomer diffusion and reaction rates significantly impact membrane properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for controlling IP using poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as an additive.
- To enhance NF membrane performance, including permeability and fouling resistance.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) into the piperazine (PIP) aqueous phase during IP.
- Utilizing synergistic interactions (hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, covalent) and viscosity modification to control PIP diffusion.
- Modulating aqueous solution pH to regulate interfacial polycondensation.
Main Results:
- Formation of a thinner, looser, more hydrophilic, and negatively charged PAA-decorated polyamide selective layer.
- Achieved a ~70% increase in water permeability (23.5 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹·bar⁻¹) while maintaining high salt and dye rejections.
- Demonstrated superior fouling resistance and long-term stability for the NF-PAA/PIP membrane.
Conclusions:
- PAA effectively regulates IP by controlling monomer diffusion and reaction rates.
- The developed NF-PAA/PIP membrane exhibits significantly improved performance and durability.
- This approach provides a straightforward and impactful strategy for advancing NF membrane technology.
