Polyurethane TFC nanofiltration membranes based on interfacial polymerization of poly(bis-MPA) and MDI on the polyethersulfone support

• TFC membranes prepared by coating a polyurethane thin layer on a PES support.
• Poly(bis-MPA) used as polyester polyol in interfacial polymerization.
• Increase of HBPE concentration led to lower flux and higher solute rejections.
• Longer HBPE arms improved bio-fouling resistance and water contact angle.

A new type of thin film composite (TFC) nanofiltration membranes was prepared based on a polyethersulfone (PES) support using interfacial polymerization of poly(bis-MPA) (Boltron®) and methylene diphenyl diisosyanate (MDI). The prepared TFC membranes were fully characterized using several techniques, including ATR-FTIR, SEM, AFM and water contact angle measurements. Nanofiltration performance of the prepared membranes was studied using determination of the water flux, and dye, salt, and transition metal rejections. The results clearly were indicated that solute rejection (dye, salt and transition metal) improved but water flux decreased with an increase of generation and/or concentration of the hyperbranched polyester. Finally, anti-fouling properties of the membranes were also investigated by static protein adsorption studies.

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