Hydroxyl-functionalized Covalent Organic Framework Membranes: Fast Organic Solvent Nanofiltration

Digambar B. Shinde, Li Cao, Sushil Kumar, Zongyao Zhou, I. Chun Chen, Dinga Wonanke, Matthew Addicoat, Zhiping Lai

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    2 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Two-dimensional covalent organic framework (COFs) membranes have shown promise for organic solvent nanofiltration applications. However, the ability to modulate the chemical properties of the membranes and their effects on the molecular transport process has not yet been explored. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of two COF membranes (TFP-MPOHF and TFP-MPF) with the same scaffold structures but different internal chemical properties. The presence of hydroxyl groups in the TFP-MPOHF membranes resulted in a significant improvement in polar solvent permeability. In contrast, the hydrophobic TFP-MPF membranes offered excellent permeability to nonpolar solvents, which was 130 - 235% higher than the TFP-MPOHF and commercial polymeric membranes. In addition, both COF membranes exhibited precise molecular sieving capacity with an apparent molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) of 800 g mol-1 and excellent stability. A deviation from the pore-flow model was observed for the TFP-MPOHF membranes, which was due to the specific interactions between solvent molecules and polar channel walls.

    Original languageBritish English
    Article number545623
    JournalJournal of Membrane Science and Research
    Volume8
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jul 2022

    Keywords

    • COF
    • Mass transport mechanism
    • Membranes
    • Organic solvent nanofiltration
    • Surface chemistry

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