Effect of added NaX nano-zeolite into polyamide as a top thin layer of membrane on water flux and salt rejection in a reverse osmosis process

► The new thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane for reverse osmosis (RO) membrane with nano-NaX zeolite and polyamide was synthesized. ► The effect of TMC and MPD monomers as well as nano-NaX zeolite concentration was investigated. ► The thermal stability, the surface structure and film thickness of nanocomposite membranes were characterized by TGA/DSC, FESEM, AFM and ATR. ► The salt rejection, water permeability, membrane pore size and surface hydrophilicitity were calculated.