Novel composite membranes prepared from 2,2 bis [4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxy propoxy) phenyl] propane, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and their mixtures for the reverse osmosis process

To develop novel composite membranes exhibiting excellent performance in the reverse osmosis process, 2,2 bis [4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxy propoxy) phenyl] propane (Bis-GMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), and their mixtures were explored as new materials for the barrier layer. The performance of membranes prepared here was compared with that of the membrane produced by the interfacial polymerization of m-phenylenediamine (MPDA) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC). The salt rejection of membrane prepared from Bis-GMA (97.5%) was lower than that of prepared from MPDA and TMC (99%). However, water permeability of the former (0.65 l/m2 h atm) was three times larger than that of the latter (0.21 l/m2 h atm). The water permeability of membrane prepared from TEGDMA was increased up to 2.2 (l/m2 h atm) while salt rejection was decreased to the value of 45%. The performance of membranes prepared from a mixed solution of Bis-GMA and TEGDMA was also investigated. Membranes prepared from the mixture of Bis-GMA and TEGDMA showed performance advantage over the trade-off trend between water permeability and salt rejection.