Development of antifouling properties and performance of nanofiltration membranes modified by interfacial polymerisation

►Bisphenol monomers, Bisphenol A (BPA) and Tetramethyl Bisphenol A (TMBPA), with different concentrations of bisphenol aqueous solution (0.5% to 2.%w/v) and various interfacial polymerisation times (10s, 30s and 60s) in the fixed 0.15%w/v organic solution of trimesoyl chloride (TMC)-hexane were studied. ►Polyester thin-film composite membranes prepared by BPA exhibited fewer tendencies for irreversible fouling by humic acid molecules at neutral environment compared to unmodified NFPES10 and TMBPA-polyester series. ►The modification affected membrane pore size and pore size distribution. Smaller pore size generated after modification does not have significant effect on humic acid removal due to the larger size of humic acid molecules.