Surface Characteristics of Magnetic Nanocomposite Reverse Osmosis Membrane

Magnetic nanocomposites are an interesting approach to improve the water desalination properties of conventional reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. In the present research, effects of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles on the surface characteristics of polyamide layer in magnetic nanocomposite reverse osmosis membrane have been investigated. The morphology, roughness, structure and dispersion of nanoparticles, surface bonds of magnetite nanoparticles/polyamide and hydrophilicity of magnetic nanocomposite RO membrane has been taken into account by SEM, ATR-FTIR, XRD and contact angle measurement at room temperature. The samples were implemented to the different magnetite nanoparticle weight percent cause to the variation of surface energy, roughness, polyamide layer free bonds, hydrophilicity and water permeability. In addition the optimum concentration of magnetite nanoparticles for improvement in surface properties of high efficiency reverse osmosis membrane was obtained. The results can provide a versatile technique for fabrication of high efficiency magnetic nanocomposite smart RO membranes.