Researchers Develop Antifouling Nanofiltration Membrane

A research group developed a new antifouling nanofiltration membrane using a one-step multiple interfacial polymerization (IP) process, according to a published study in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

Spearheaded by Wan Yinhua from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the researchers managed to narrow a polyamide nanofiltration membrane’s pore distribution using the said process involving two solutions:

• 1) An aqueous solution of piperazine anhydrous (PIP) and γ-(2,3-epoxypropoxy) propytrimethoxysilane (KH560)
• 2) An organic solution of trimesoyl chloride and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)

The KH560 speeds up PIP’s diffusion rate, while its and TEOS’s hydrolysis or condensation help regulate the separation layer structure.

This IP process creates a polyamide-silica membrane with a separation layer that is denser, thicker, and more uniform compared to that of a traditional polyamide membrane. It, therefore, results in a membrane with a much narrower pore size distribution and stronger antifouling performance.

Read the full article here to know more about the development of the new antifouling nanofiltration membrane.

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