A PDA@ZIF-8-Incorporated PMIA TFN-FO Membrane for Seawater Desalination: Improving Water Flux and Anti-Fouling Performance

Forward osmosis (FO) technology, known for its minimal energy requirements, excellent resistance to fouling, and significant commercial potential, shows enormous promise in the development of sustainable technologies, especially with regard to seawater desalination and wastewater. In this study, we improved the performance of the FO membrane in terms of its mechanical strength and hydrophilic properties. Generally, the water flux (J_w) of polyisophenylbenzamide (PMIA) thin-film composite (TFC)-FO membranes is still inadequate for industrial applications. Here, hydrophilic polydopamine (PDA)@ zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) nanomaterials and their integration into PMIA membranes using the interfacial polymerization (IP) method were investigated. The impact of PDA@ZIF-8 on membrane performance in both pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) and forward osmosis (FO) modes was analyzed. The durability and fouling resistance of these membranes were evaluated over the long term. When the amount of ZIF-8@PDA incorporated in the membrane reached 0.05 wt% in the aqueous phase in the IP reaction, the J_w values for the PRO mode and FO mode were 12.09 LMH and 11.10 LMH, respectively. The reverse salt flux (J_s)/J_w values for both modes decreased from 0.75 and 0.80 to 0.33 and 0.35, respectively. At the same time, the PRO and FO modes' properties were stable in a 15 h test. The incorporation of PDA@ZIF-8 facilitated the formation of water channels within the nanoparticle pores. Furthermore, the J_s/J_w ratio decreased significantly, and the FO membranes containing PDA@ZIF-8 exhibited high flux recovery rates and superior resistance to membrane fouling. Therefore, PDA@ZIF-8-modified FO membranes have the potential for use in industrial applications in seawater desalination.