Enhanced dispersibility of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in the organic phase via surface modification for TFN nanofiltration membrane preparation

The nanosized UiO-66-NH(2) metal–organic framework (MOF) material was synthesized and modified by palmitoyl chloride to enhance the dispersibility and restrain the aggregation of MOF particles in the organic phase. Then the above nanomaterial was introduced into interfacial polymerization to prepare thin film nanocomposite (TFN) nanofiltration membranes. The prepared membranes displayed “ridge-valley” shaped Turing structure surface morphology with membrane thickness around 380 nm. The FE-SEM, ATR-FTIR and XPS characterization showed the polyamide layer was fabricated on the substrate surface. The TFN membranes showed higher hydrophobicity, zeta potential and roughness than TFC membranes. Due to the introduction of MOF and the formation of MOF/polyamide interfacial passageways, the TFN membranes showed higher water permeability but slightly lower rejection properties than TFC membranes. Compared with the TFN membranes prepared from pristine UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH(2), the TFN membrane prepared from modified UiO-66-NH(2) showed better rejection properties because of its superior dispersibility in the organic phase.