Rapid fabrication of fluorinated covalent organic polymer membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration

by F. Alduraiei, S. Kumar, J. Liu, S. P. Nunes, G. Szekely
Year: 2022 ISSN: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120345 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120345

Extra Information

Journal of Membrane Science, Volume 648, 15 April 2022, 120345

Abstract

Covalent organic polymers (COPs) are prepared via the non-uniform covalent assembly of organic building
blocks, endowing their structures with permanent pores, thereby rendering them suitable for diverse applica-
tions. The use of COPs in the fabrication of composite membranes can enhance their permeability, selectivity,
and chemical stability. However, the existing COP synthesis processes are typically tedious, thus necessitating the
development of rapid and simpler routes. We demonstrate an easily performed synthesis route for the rapid (less
than 10 s) fabrication of COP-based composite membranes via interfacial polymerization. The membranes were
directly prepared on a polyacrylonitrile substrate without transferring the COP layer onto a porous support. The
hydrophobicity of the membranes was achieved by the integration of fluorine-rich groups along the polymer
backbone. The obtained solvent-resistant composite membranes exhibited a toluene permeance of 11 L m 2 h 1
bar 1 and congo red (687 g mol 1) rejection levels of more than 95%. The remarkable performance, crosslinked
polymer structure, and manufacturing scalability of the fabricated thin films make them attractive as solvent-
resistant nanofiltration membranes.