TFC organic solvent nanofiltration membrane fabricated by a novel HDPE membrane support covered by manganese dioxide /Tannic acid-Fe (III) layers

It is of great importance to select an ultrafiltration (UF) support with outstanding solvent stability to fabricate thin film composite (TFC) organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membranes. Accordingly, high density polyethylene (HDPE)-polystyrene (PS)-styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) blends were prepared . Next, HDPE membrane were made via extracting the dispersed phase from the HDPE/PS/SEBS blend using THF. Then, the membrane was selected as the support for preparing the TFC membranes. Accordingly, the support was first contacted with KMnO4 solution, by which MnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were generated on the support surface. The membrane surface was then contacted with tannic acid (TA) and FeCl3 aqueous solutions consecutively to form a uniform TA-Fe3+ layer. Eventually, the PA layer was formed on the membrane surface through contacting with m-phenylenediamine aqueous solution and trimesoyl chloride/n-hexane solution consecutively. The TFC membrane exhibited extraordinary dyes rejection and good methanol permeance in OSN applications.