Reverse Osmosis Membrane with Branched Poly(Alkylene Oxide) Modified Antifouling Surface

Abstract

Composite membranes that exhibit long-term resistance to biofouling comprise a porous support and a crosslinked polyamide discriminating layer having an external surface, the discriminating layer comprising a branched poly(alkylene oxide) (PAO) polymer attached to its external surface. The branched PAO polymer typically has the structure of a molecular comb or brush, and is made by polymerization of a PAO macromonomer of the following formula: RO—[(CHR′)n—O]m-V in which R is hydrogen or a C1-20 aliphatic or aromatic group, V is any group containing a polymerizable site, each R′ is independently hydrogen or a short chain alkyl group, n is an integer of 1-6, and m is an integer of 1 to about 200. The α end group can be either polymerized or copolymerized.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to membranes. In one aspect, the invention relates to reverse osmosis (RO) membranes while in another aspect, the invention relates to thin-film-composite (TFC)RO membranes. In still another aspect, the invention relates to TFC RO membranes comprising a porous support and a discriminating layer in which the exterior surface of the discriminating layer is chemically modified to reduce or prevent fouling of the membrane during operation. In yet other aspects, the invention is a method of modifying the exterior surface of the discriminating layer of the TFC RO, and a method of using the modified TFC RO. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Aromatic polyamide TFC RO membranes are ubiquitous in our daily lives finding application in many industrial areas such as desalting of brine, ultra-pure water production, environmental pollution treatment, and the like. The trend for the next generation of such membranes is to require more sophistic...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] The present invention provides improved reduced fouling composite membranes and methods for their preparation. In one embodiment, the present invention develops and characterizes new branched poly(alkylene oxide) (PAO) modified TFC RO membranes capable of preventing nonspecific protein adsorption as a means of precluding the formation of biofilms and, hence, reduced fouling. These branched, particularly the highly branched, PAO-modified TFC RO membranes exhibit surprisingly improved stability in fouling, particularly biofouling, environments. Moreover, the membranes of this invention are more thoroughly cleaned under either basic or acidic conditions than linear PAO-modified TFC RO membranes.

Problems solved by technology

The former approach has produced TFC RO membranes of enhanced water flux but with an accompanying considerable loss of salt rejection, or vice versa.

However, due to the uncertainty of new chemistry and the reluctance of companies to invest in the development of new polymers, alternate approaches such as the surface modification of widely used polymers have increased in importance.

Nevertheless, the main difficulty in accomplishing this goal is fouling that produces a serious flux decline over the operational time of the membrane.

However, these methods vary widely in applicability and efficiency and this, in turn, has required continuous, on-going efforts to solve these problems.

However, chlorination, although effective for the destruction of microorganisms, generates harmful byproducts such as trihalomethanes and other carcinogens.

In many cases, biofouling is an adverse event that can impair the function of RO membranes.

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