Polyamide interfacial composite membranes prepared from m-phenylene diamine, trimesoyl chloride and a new disulfonated diamine

[Display omitted] ► Polyamide TFCs were prepared from m-phenylenediamine and trimesoyl chloride. ► TFC membranes have 0.4±0.1% NaCl passage and permeate flux of 42±3L/(m2h). ► Post-polymerization thermal treatment did not improve rejection or permeate flux. ► TFC membranes were synthesized from S-BAPS, a disulfonated sulfone diamine and TMC. ► S-BAPS based membranes have higher permeate flux and lower rejection than MPD based ones. The influence of synthesis conditions (e.g., monomer concentration and membrane preparation protocol) on transport properties of polyamide thin-film composite (TFC) membranes prepared using m-phenylenediamine (MPD) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) via interfacial polymerization is reported. For example, at 25°C, NaCl rejection and permeate flux combinations of 99.6±0.1% and 42±3L/(m2h), respectively, were achieved in crossflow filtration using a 2000ppm aqueous solution of NaCl and a transmembrane pressure difference of 225psi (15.5bar). Additionally, a sulfone diamine, disulfonated bis[4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl]sulfone (S-BAPS), was used in place of MPD to prepare TFC membranes. The resulting membranes had low NaCl rejection but somewhat higher permeate flux than MPD/TMC membranes. These membranes had reduced chlorine tolerance compared to those prepared using MPD as the diamine.