Engineering high-effective antifouling polyether sulfone membrane with P(PEG-PDMS-KH570)@SiO2 nanocomposite via in-situ sol-gel process

- A novel approach to prepare organic-inorganic composite PES membrane was proposed.
- The modifier P(PEG-PDMS-KH570)@SiO2 was obtained via in-situ sol-gel process.
- SiO2 nanoparticles, PEG and PDMS segments were enriched on membrane surfaces.
- A multi-defense antifouling performance was achieved for composite PES membrane.
- The PES/T@SiO2∼4% membrane exhibited superior and sustainable antifouling ability.

In this work, an original amphiphilic copolymer P(PEG-PDMS-KH570) combined with SiO2 nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) was utilized to prepare polyether sulfone (PES) nanocomposite ultrafiltration (UF) membrane with enhanced antifouling performance. The enrichment of the organic-inorganic modifier P(PEG-PDMS-KH570)@SiO2 were realized at the same time as the formation of PES UF membrane via sol-gel non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) process. The interaction between the copolymer P(PEG-PDMS-KH570) and SiO2 NPs furnished a stable and effective antifouling PES UF membrane. Surface morphology, chemical composition characterization and wetting property measurements confirmed the segregation and distribution of the nanocomposite modifier. The multi-defense mechanism from fouling resistance to fouling release of the nanocomposite membranes was investigated by setting bovine serum albumin (BSA) aqueous solution as a model foulant. The antifouling properties of the modified membranes, especially for the PES/T@SiO2∼4% membrane, were effectively improved. The flux decline rate of PES/T@SiO2∼4% membrane was as low as 15.6%, and the flux recover ratio was up to 99.0%. Moreover, the modified membranes also possessed remarkable antifouling stability. Results of this work provide a facile method to construct a hierarchical and heterogeneous membrane surface that could achieve the multi-defense mechanism in efficient water treatment.

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