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PUBLICATIONS

Thin film composite reverse osmosis membranes prepared via layered interfacial polymerization

Published

Author(s)

Wansuk Choi, Soon J. Kwon, Jong S. Lee, Joona Bang, Edwin Chan, Jung-Hyun Lee

Abstract

Reverse osmosis via a thin-film composite (TFC) membrane is currently the most energy efficient commercial process for water desalination1. The retention of salt ions and permeation of water are enabled by the permselective layer of the TFC membrane, with the ultimate goal of minimizing this permselective layer thickness for maximum energy efficiency. We present layered interfacial polymerization (LIP) as a new approach for fabricating TFC membranes with unprecedented nanoscale control in the permselective layer thickness and smoothness, with the benefit of industrial scale manufacturability. Membranes fabricated using LIP demonstrated high NaCl retention necessary for water desalination, with water permeance over 1.8 times and permselectivity over 4.6 times greater than that of membranes fabricated using the commercial interfacial polymerization process.
Citation
Journal of Membrane Science
Pub Type
Journals

Keywords

water desalination, polymers, thin films: molecular layer-by-layer
Polymers

Citation

Choi, W. , Kwon, S. , Lee, J. , Bang, J. , Chan, E. and Lee, J. (2017), Thin film composite reverse osmosis membranes prepared via layered interfacial polymerization, Journal of Membrane Science (Accessed May 8, 2024)

Created March 31, 2017, Updated October 12, 2021