Effect of aminophend/formaldehyde resin polymeric nanospheres as nanofiller on polyamide thin film nanocomposite membranes for reverse osmosis application

Aminophend/formaldehyde resin polymeric nanospheres (APFNSs) synthesized by the sol-gel method with monomers of 3-aminophenol and formaldehyde were used as nanofillers incorporated into polyamide (PA) layers to fabricate thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes via interfacial polymerization of trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and m-phenylenediamine (MPD). Due to the monomer of 3-aminophenol, the APFNSs are rich in hydroxyl and amino groups. Therefore, the APFNSs nanoparticles have good hydrophilicity and can react with TMC, resulting in chemically bonded to polyamide matrix of TFN membrane. The water flux of TFN-As membrane modified by APFNSs nanoparticles is 71.3 L/m2·h nearly twice of the pristine TFC membrane, and the salt rejection all keeps over 96%. TFN-As membranes also exhibit excellent anti-chlorine, anti-fouling and reuse performances. This work demonstrates that aminophend/formaldehyde resin polymeric nanospheres (APFNSs) can be used as a promising nanofiller for developing novel TFN membranes with improved desalination performance. •Aminophend/formaldehyde resin polymeric nanospheres (APFNSs) were synthesized.•APFNSs as organic nanofillers have abundant amino groups and hydroxyl groups.•The effect of amino groups on the properties of TFN membranes was investigated.•Amide bonds between APFNSs and polyamide layers affect the structure of membranes.•APFNSs enhance permeability, anti-chlorine and anti-fouling of TFN RO membranes.