Improved fouling resistance for RO membranes by a surface modification method

We investigated the surface modification of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes to enhance fouling resistance. RO membranes were modified via a sol-gel process using aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS), chlorotrimethoxysilane (CTMS) and mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS). The fouling test showed that the flux of the pristine decreased continuously from 52.3 to 20 GFD, whereas APTMS-RO, CTMS-RO and MPTMS-RO were maintained about 37, 25, and 13 GFD, respectively. Salt rejection was maintained over 97.4%. The FRR values of pristine, APTMS-RO, CTMS-RO, and MPTMS-RO were 75.5, 98, 92.2, 88.3%, after chemical cleaning process. As a result, the modified RO membranes have excellent antifouling properties after 3-cycles chemical cleaning. (C) 2019 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.