Preparation and properties of polyphenylene sulfide/oxidized-polyphenylene sulfide composite membranes

In recent years, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) membranes have gained immense attention owing to their excellent separation performance. However, a single material is often insufficient in achieving desirable material properties. To this end, combining two or more materials to form composites is an efficient approach. In this study, a polyphenylene sulfide/oxidized polyphenylene sulfide (PPS/O-PPS) composite membrane was prepared through post-modification of a PPS membrane fabricated by thermally induced phase separation in an oxidizing solution consisting of H2O2, CH3COOH, and Amberlyst 15. Next, sulfonal (-SO2-) groups were introduced on the membrane surface by oxidation. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the formation of PPS/O-PPS membrane. Compared to the PPS membrane, the composite membrane showed good hydrophilicity, chemical and solvent resistance, superior water flux, and anti-fouling performance. Furthermore, the dye separation performance of the composite membrane was investigated. The composite membrane showed a separation efficiency of more than 94% for methyl blue and Congo red. Therefore, the PPS/O-PPS composite membrane prepared in this study is a promising alternative as it possesses dye rejecting properties and can find practical applications under harsh environmental conditions.