More resilient polyester membranes for high-performance reverse osmosis desalination

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Yao, Yujian; Zhang, Pingxia; Sun, Fei; Zhang, Wen; Li, Meng; Sha, Gang; Teng, Long; Wang, Xianze; Huo, Mingxin; DuChanois, Ryan M.; Cao, Tianchi; Boo, Chanhee; Zhang, Xuan; Elimelech, Menachem
• 署名单位: Nanjing University of Science & Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Institute of Chemistry, CAS; Nanjing University of Science & Technology; Northeast Normal University - China; Yale University; Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST)
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-11000
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adk0632
• 发表日期: 2024-04-19
• 页码: 333-338
• 关键词: polyamide nanofiltration; ionization behavior; boron removal; active layer; energy; density; polymers

摘要

Thin-film composite reverse osmosis membranes have remained the gold standard technology for desalination and water purification for nearly half a century. Polyamide films offer excellent water permeability and salt rejection but also suffer from poor chlorine resistance, high fouling propensity, and low boron rejection. We addressed these issues by molecularly designing a polyester thin-film composite reverse osmosis membrane using co-solvent-assisted interfacial polymerization to react 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methylbenzoic acid with trimesoyl chloride. This polyester membrane exhibits substantial water permeability, high rejection for sodium chloride and boron, and complete resistance toward chlorine. The ultrasmooth, low-energy surface of the membrane also prevents fouling and mineral scaling compared with polyamide membranes. These membranes could increasingly challenge polyamide membranes by further optimizing water-salt selectivity, offering a path to considerably reducing pretreatment steps in desalination.