Development of a high-performance polysulfone hybrid ultrafiltration membrane using hydrophilic polymer-functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 as filler

A novel polysulfone hybrid ultrafiltration membrane was developed by blending hydrophilic poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] [P(PEGMA)] grafted mesoporous SBA-15 [SBA-g-P(PEGMA)] as filler. The hydrophilic SBA-g-P(PEGMA) fillers were synthesized via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The effects of the SBA-g-P(PEGMA) fillers on the prepared hybrid membranes were systematically investigated. Compared with pristine SBA-15 fillers, SBA-g-P(PEGMA) fillers contributed to higher hydrophilicity and a more developed pore structure in the hybrid membranes. Specifically, SBA-15 grafted with a moderate P(PEGMA) molecular weight could better preserve the valid open-ended filler pore structure in the membrane matrix, thus facilitating membrane permeability. The pure water flux of the as-prepared polysulfone (PSF)/SBA-g-P(PEGMA) membrane was three times that of the PSF/SBA-15 membrane (271.7 L m(-2) h(-1) vs. 88.2 L m(-2) h(-1)) with similar membrane selectivity. Moreover, the PSF/SBA-g-P(PEGMA) membranes showed improved antifouling property. This work paves the way for developing high-performance hybrid membranes by blending of hydrophilic polymer-functionalized mesoporous fillers in the future. (c) 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47353.