Effect of nano-amphiphilic cellulose as a modifier to PSf composite membranes

•Amphiphilic cellulose was designed as hydrophilic modifier for PSf membrane.•This obtained membranes had good stability and antipollution properties.•Amphiphilic cellulose exhibits strong pore-forming effect during phase-inversion process.

Nano-cellulose-based amphiphilic copolymer cellulose-graft-myristyl was synthesized and used as an additive for the polysulfone (PSf)-based composite membranes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the nano size of the synthesized amphiphilic cellulose, and the presence of amphiphilic cellulose in the composite membranes is confirmed by FTIR. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was conducted as an effective measurement to inspect the morphologies of the membranes, while tensile strength test was involved to prove the membranes have good mechanical properties. The flux of blend membranes revealed that the surface enrichment of amphiphilic cellulose can significantly improve the surface hydrophilicity and antipollution ability of PSf blend membranes.