Growth dynamics of interfacially polymerized polyamide layers by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry

Tamlin D. Matthews, Huan Yan, David G. Cahill, Orlando Coronell, Benito J. Mariñas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The synthesis of polyamide films used as active layers in reverse osmosis membranes was studied by in-situ diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Aromatic polyamide layers were formed by interfacial polymerization on porous polysulfone supports using varying concentrations of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) in water of 0.1-100. g/L with a fixed concentration of trimesoyl chloride (TMC) in hexane of 1. g/L and varying TMC concentrations of 0.1-10. g/L with a fixed MPD concentration of 20. g/L. Polyamide growth dynamics were monitored in real-time by diffuse optical reflectance at λ=329. nm. A relationship was developed between diffuse reflectance and polyamide thickness. The diffuse reflectance data show that ~50% of the polyamide thickness is produced in <2. s for all TMC concentrations studied and for MPD concentrations >2. g/L. All studied concentrations of TMC at a fixed 20. g/L MPD concentration produced a polyamide thickness of ≈120. nm. Polyamide thickness increased from ≈10 to 110. nm with increasing concentration of MPD at 1. g/L TMC. The roughness measured by AFM increased with increasing MPD concentration but decreased with increasing TMC concentration. At MPD concentrations <0.5. g/L, polyamide does not grow on top of the polysulfone.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)71-80
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Membrane Science
Volume429
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 15 2013

Keywords

  • Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
  • Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy
  • Interfacial polymerization
  • Polyamide
  • Reverse osmosis
  • Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Biochemistry
  • Filtration and Separation

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