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

Abstract

ABSTRACT 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. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136 , 47353.