Antifouling polyethersulfone-based interfacial polymerization membranes for water treatment applications

Abstract

High-performance low-fouling flat sheet membranes for different separation applications were concocted using polyethersulfone substrate. Interfacial polymerization (IFP) membranes rendered better performance for tackling advanced water filtering tasks. Interfacial polymerization allows membranes to have substantially enriched performance for even more advanced water filtration applications. This study presents development and performance evaluation of high-tech, multilayer interfacial composite membranes for advanced water filtration applications. Multilayered membranes comprising polyethersulfone PES (fabric-supported) base, polyamide (PA) permselective layer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) protective layer were fabricated using interfacial polymerization techniques. This multilayered membrane was cast on a non-woven polyester support to render mechanical strength and dimensional stability, providing a robust base for membrane casting and coating. Structural analyses revealed enhanced mechanical properties, with tensile strength increasing from 50 to 66 MPa. Contact angle measurements indicated improved hydrophilicity with contact angle reduction from 100.2° to 67.1°. Fabricated membranes demonstrated significant improvements in water flux and salt rejection performance. Results showed pure water flux of 160 L/m²/h for pristine PES membrane cast on non-woven polyester fabric, which decreased to 70 L/m²/h for PES-PA membrane and 65 L/m²/h for PES-PA-PVA membrane at gain of increased permselectivity. Salt rejection was highest for PES-PA-PVA membrane, achieving rejection rates exceeding 96% for Na₂SO₄, 95% for MgSO₄, and 90% for NaCl. Fabricated membranes demonstrated significant improvements in separation performance, achieving dye rejection rates (DRR) of up to 85% for methylene blue and methyl orange, and flux recovery ratios (FRR) ranging from 70 to 85%. Membranes exhibited strong rejection efficiencies of 50–80% for heavy metal ions. These findings highlight potential of multilayer membranes for industrial-scale water purification applications, combining excellent mechanical durability, high fouling resistance, and exceptional filtration efficiency.