Multilayered polyelectrolyte complex based solvent resistant nanofiltration membranes prepared from weak polyacids

Alternating deposition of oppositely charged polyelectrolyte (PE) complexes (PECs) were recently reported to create stable solvent resistant nanofiltration (SRNF) membranes with high flux and selectivity. The new combination of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) with a weak polyacid (polyacrylic acid, PAA) was investigated in this report, since the charge density of these PEC based membranes can be affected by more factors than with strong polyacids, such as salt concentration and pH. Thus offers more possibilities to control membrane morphology and performance. Prepared membranes showed more than 90% retention for Rose Bengal (RB) from different solvents, proving the good potential of these membranes in SRNF applications. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.