Enhancing TFC membrane permeability by incorporating single-layer MSN into polyamide rejection layer

Abstract

A new kind of thin film composite membrane (TFC) was prepared through a simple layer-by-layer assembly method. Vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS), a kind of silane coupling agent, was grafted on PVDF membrane surface through free radical polymerization method firstly. Then, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) were uniformly grafted on surface of VTMS/PVDF membrane through reacting with the methoxide group (Si-OCH3) of VTMS. Under the optimized grafting conditions, the MSN grafted density can reach up to 8.73 mg/dm2. Eventually, the MSN were embedded into polyamide rejection layer through an interfacial polymerization process. The prepared MSN-TFC membrane has excellent permeability and desalination properties. Furthermore, this research provides a new pathway to incorporate MSN into polyamide rejection layer.