Preparation and characterization of a novel thermally stable thin film composite nanofiltration membrane with poly (m-phenyleneisophthalamide) (PMIA) substrate

In this study, a novel thermally stable thin film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membrane was prepared by interfacial polymerization using poly (m-phenyleneisophthalamide) (PMIA) membrane as substrate. The effect of reaction conditions and the properties of substrates on performance of TFC NF membranes were investigated. The substrates and TFC NF membranes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS) and contact angle goniometer, respectively. The PMIA TFC NF membrane showed an excellent thermal stability. The water flux of PMIA TFC NF membrane increased about three times while the rejection remained stable as the operating temperature increased from 25 °C to 90 °C. The PMIA TFC NF membrane exhibited a great potential application in the treatment of simulated textile wastewater.