Preparation and Characterization of a Novel Nanofiltration Membrane

In this study, poly[2-(N, N-dimethyl amino) ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) was prepared by bulk polymerization using AIBN as an initiator. Aqueous PDMAEMA solution was then purified by hollow fiber ultrafiltration membrane technology to remove oligomers. PDMAEMA/polysulfone (PSF) positively charged nanofiltration (NF) membrane was developed by interfacial polymerization by using PSF ultrafiltration membrane as the substrate, PDMAEMA aqueous solution as the coating solution and p-xylylene dichloride dissolved in n-heptane as the organic crosslinker. Effects of substrate material, concentration of monomer, pH value of PDMAEMA, coating time and crosslinking time were then carefully examined on the separation properties of the prepared NF membrane. Data suggested that the rejection rate of the composite NF membrane to 1 g/l of MgSO4 was around 86.7%, and the water flux was about 18.4 L.m(-2).h(-1). Therefore, the developed NF membrane is suitable for rejection and desalination of alkaline dyes.