Enhanced Water Permeability and Antifouling Property of Coffee-Ring-Textured Polyamide Membranes by In Situ Incorporation of a Zwitterionic Metal–Organic Framework

Abstract

Modulation of the polyamide structure is critically important for the reverse-osmosis performance of thin-film composite (TFC) membranes in the field of water reuse and desalination. Herein, zwitterionic nanoparticles of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (PZ@ZIF-8) were fabricated and incorporated into the polyamide active layer through the interfacial polymerization method. A hydrophilic, zwitterionic coffee-ring structure was formed on the surface of polyamide thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes due to the adjusted diffusion rate of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) from the aqueous phase into the organic phase during the interfacial polymerization process. Surface characterization demonstrated that the coffee-ring structure increased the amounts of water transport channels on the membrane surface and the intrinsic pores of PZ@ZIF-8 maintained the salt rejection. Antifouling and bactericidal activities of TFN membranes were enhanced remarkably owing to the bacterial-"defending" and bacterial-"attacking" behaviors of hydrophilic and zwitterionic groups from PZ@ZIF-8 nanoparticles. This work would provide a promising method for the application of MOFs to enhance the bio-/organic-fouling resistance of TFN membranes with high water permeation and salt rejection.