A novel polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membrane with enhanced permeability and antifouling ability via melamine-modified metal-organic framework

The trade-off between permeability and selectivity, as well as membrane fouling remains a major challenge in membrane application, impacting the performance and lifespan. Herein, a novel approach has been proposed, involving the incorporation of melamine-modified Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) into Polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration membranes. The modified MOFs exhibit stable anchoring to the membrane surface through hydrogen bonding, forming a hydration layer that enhances resistance to foulants. Moreover, the MOF framework channels facilitate water transport via providing additional pathways. The optimized melamine-MOF modified membranes achieve a permeability of 50 L/m2.h and a 97.8 % bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection. The antifouling experiment demonstrates an 87 % fouling recovery ratio (FRR) for the modified membrane. A computational study has been conducted to investigate the interaction between UiO-66 and melamine using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The simulations validated the formation of hydrogen bonds and confirmed previous findings. Overall, the melamine-modified MOF exhibits high permeability and antifouling ability due to its excellent hydrophilic properties, which offer promising application prospects in wastewater reclamation.