Design and Performance of Hydrophilic Poly(Aryl Ether Oxadiazole) Ultrafiltration Membranes With Good Antifouling Properties

To develop high-performance antifouling ultrafiltration membrane materials, a novel poly(aryl ether oxadiazole) (PAEO) was designed and prepared. Subsequently, a modified poly(aryl ether oxadiazole) containing phenolic hydroxyl groups (PAEO-OH) was further synthesized by reacting the oxadiazole ring with the amino group at high temperature. The introduction of hydroxyl groups in PAEO-OH enhanced its hydrophilicity and increased the pure water flux compared to the 3-PAEO membrane, while maintaining a rejection ratio exceeding 90%. The antifouling performance of the 3-PAEO-OH membrane was evaluated using a three-cycle ultrafiltration experiment, which showed over 90% reversible fouling and more than 80% flux recovery, highlighting its excellent antifouling characteristics. Additionally, the antifouling and separation performance of the PAEO-OH membrane, prepared with varying PVP content, was analyzed. The results revealed that optimal performance was achieved with a PVP content of 4.5 wt.%. In conclusion, the PAEO-OH membrane demonstrates significant potential for various applications in industrial separation and purification processes.