On the difference of composite membranes from polyvinyl alcohol- Butene dioic acid(cis/trans) onto polysulfone

While many composite membranes have been explored using phase inversion and coatings, few are there apart from the polyamide. In this present study, asymmetric polysulfone (PS) membranes were prepared by a wet phase inversion process and crosslinking mechanistic pathways to provide facile formation of coating materials suitable for filtration. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-coated on polysulfone membranes were crosslinked using Butene dioic acid(cis/trans) (viz. maleic(MA) and fumaric(FA)acid). The membrane properties (viz. hydrophilicity, roughness, zeta potential) differed due to conformational differences between the two crosslinkers. PS-PVA(MA) membranes showed better salt separation abilities compared to PS-PVA(FA) membranes. The selective bivalent (SO42-) salt separation abilities were observed compared to monovalent (Cl-) ones. PS-PVA(FA) membranes showed a better separation ratio(2.77) of bivalent and monovalent ions (RSO42-/ RCl-) compared to PS-PVA(MA) membranes(2.7) for water matrix-1(TDS 5.4). The defluoridation capabilities were also experimented. PS-PVA(MA) membranes showed a 3% better rejection ability compared to PS-PVA(FA) membranes. PS- PVA(MA) membranes developed a low bacterial settlement tendency compared to PS- PVA(FA) membranes. [Display omitted] •PS-PVA(Butene dioic acid)(cis/trans) composite membranes were fabricated.•Surface characteristic differences in the behaviour of the two membranes.•PS-PVA(Butene dioic acid)(cis)membrane shows better salt separation ability compared to trans.•PS-PVA(Butene dioic acid)(cis)membrane results in better inhibition in bacterial settlement compared to trans.•Salt separation performance depends on the total dissolved solid(TDS) of the water matrices.