Thin-film nanocomposite membranes incorporated with UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticles for brackish water and seawater desalination

• Published in: Journal of membrane science 2020-06, Vol.604, p.118039, Article 118039
• Main Authors: Zhao, Die Ling, Yeung, Wing See, Zhao, Qipeng, Chung, Tai-Shung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Interfacial polymerization; Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs); Reverse osmosis (RO); Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN)
• ISSN: 0376-7388; 1873-3123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118039

In this work, UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticles, a type of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with an average size of ~100 nm, were incorporated into the polyamide-based thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) RO membranes. Their inherent porous structure, suitable triangular aperture size, hydrophilic nature, and high chemical and water stability endow the TFN membranes with greater surface hydrophilicity, lower degree of cross-linking and preferential pathways for water molecules across the selective layers. Herein, we introduce UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticles in the TFN layer via spray assisted pre-disposition. The UiO-66-NH2 TFN membranes with a spray duration of 3 min show a ~50% increase in pure water permeance while maintaining a similar rejection compared with the thin-film composite (TFC) membranes in brackish water desalination tests. The former also displays higher chlorine resistance than the latter. In the stimulated seawater desalination tests, TFN membranes also exhibit a higher water flux and salt rejection than the benchmark membranes. •Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes with UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticles were fabricated.•The nanoparticles were induced to the selective layer via spray assisted pre-deposition.•The TFN membranes exhibited higher water permeability than the control.•They possessed similar salt rejection compared with the control in RO desalination tests.•They also displayed higher chlorine resistance compared with the control.