Novel thin-film composite membrane for seawater desalination with sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) containing amino groups

Abstract

Sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) containing sulfonic acid and amino groups (SDADPS) were successfully synthesized using direct-step polymerization as a novel thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane material for high chlorine resistance. TFC membranes were prepared using an interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction with trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and amine solution, containing m-phenylenediamine (MPDA) and SDADPS, on a polysulfone (PS) ultrafiltration (UF) support membrane. The synthesized SDADPS and fabricated TFC RO membranes were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. Moreover, RO performances, salt rejection and water flux, were measured using a cross-flow cell instrument. Chlorine resistance was evaluated using sodium hypochlorite solution. The membrane fabricated with SDADPS was compared with a typical polyamide (PA) TFC membrane which was prepared by IP reaction with TMC and MPDA on a PS support membrane. The SDADPS RO membrane had much higher chlorine resistance than PA RO membrane and showed good RO performances, such as water flux (32 L/m² h) and salt rejection (95%).

Keywords:

• Desalination
• Reverse osmosis
• RO membrane
• Sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)
• Chlorine resistance

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant (#11 seaHERO B02-06) from Plant Technology Advancement Program funded by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs of the Korean government.

This work was also supported by the Human Resources Development the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (20114010203050) grant funded by the Korea government Ministry of Knowledge Economy.

Notes

The 4th International Desalination Workshop (IDW4), 16–18 November 2011, Jeju Island, South Korea