Effect of ammonium groups of sulfonated polysulfone membrane on its pervaporation performance

► Ammonium group of suffocated polysulfone membrane had great influence on pervaporation performance. ► Ion exchanged method can effectively induced ammonium group in polymer membranes. ► FTIR Peaks of N-H stretching and NH4+ deformation vibration confirmed the ammonium group in modified membranes. ► Increasing ammonium group content decreased the swelling of membrane and enhanced the permeate diffusion selectivity. ► Inducing ammonium group in pervaporation membrane significantly enhanced the PSI value.