Fabrication of composite nanofiltration membrane by incorporating attapulgite nanorods during interfacial polymerization for high water flux and antifouling property

A hybrid thin film composite membrane with high flux and enhanced antifouling performance was prepared by incorporating attapulgite (ATP) nanorods using the interfacial polymerization reaction of piperazine (PIP) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of ATP nanorods in the polyamide (PA) layer. The surface morphology and hydrophilicity of the thin film composite membranes were probed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and water contact angle goniometer. The existence of attapulgite nanorods in the polyamide layer increased the membrane hydrophilicity and the water flux up to 229.5 L m(-2) h(-1) MPa-1, which was 1.3-fold higher than PA membrane. Furthermore, the ATP-modified nanofiltration membrane kept a high salt rejection of 92% for Na2SO4 and dye rejection of 94.7% for Orange GII. Furthermore, the attapulgite nanorods also endowed the polyamide nanofiltration membrane with enhanced antifouling performance, a remarkably higher flux recovery ratio than the pristine polyamide membrane for various kinds of foulants including bovine serum albumin, humic acid and sodium alginate.