Novel solvent-resistant nanofiltration membranes using MPD co-crosslinked polyimide for efficient desalination

Solvent-resistant nanofiltration (NF) membranes have numerous application prospects. In this study, a novel solvent-resistant nanofiltration membrane with a double layered polyamide structure was prepared for efficient desalination. The substrate was polyimide crosslinked with m -phenylenediamine (MPD), and the surface layer was polyamide prepared by typical interfacial polymerization. The crosslinking was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy . Investigation of the effects of different reaction conditions on membrane performance showed that the optimal reaction conditions were found to be: 5% aqueous MPD solution with crosslinking time of 10 min and piperazine concentration of 0.1% (m/v). The rejection rate for sodium sulfate and sodium chloride were 99.13% and 97.45%, respectively. The membrane morphologies were studied by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy . The membrane showed electronegativity in the pH range of 3.0–10.0 and its contact angle was 54.28°, indicating excellent hydrophilicity. After soaking in several solvents for a week, the membrane still had a high rejection rate of more than 90% for Na 2 SO 4 , demonstrating its excellent solvent resistance .