Development of polyaniline-modified polysulfone nanocomposite membrane

In the present investigation, polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles were used to improve the separation figures of merit of polysulfone (PSu) membrane. Polyaniline nanoparticles were dispersed into polysulfone matrix for the development of PSu/PANI nanocomposites through solution blending. A wet phase inversion method was used to fabricate a flat sheet polysulfone (PSu) and PSu/PANI nanocomposite membranes. The structure and characteristic properties of the membranes were investigated in terms of the surface and cross-section morphologies, roughness, and hydrophilicity, which were interpreted by scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, and water contact angle meter, respectively. Apart from these, the uniform dispersion of polyaniline nanoparticles (<20 nm) into polysulfone matrix was ascertained by transmission electron microscope. Compared with polysulfone membrane, PSu/PANI nanocomposite membranes had more hydrophilicity and smooth surface, and honeycomb cross-section structure. Therefore, the nanoparticles inclusion in the polysulfone membrane showed a significant effect on hydrophilic property as well as membrane morphology, which resulted in improvement of the permeability characteristics of polysulfone membrane. © 2011 The Author(s).