Title: Water-polyamide chemical interplay in desalination membranes explored by ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract

Reverse osmosis using aromatic polyamide membranes is currently the most important technology for seawater desalination. The performance of reverse osmosis membranes is highly dependent on the interplay of their surface chemical groups with water and water contaminants. In order to better understand the underlying mechanisms of these membranes, we study ultrathin polyamide films that chemically resemble reverse osmosis membranes, using ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This technique can identify the functional groups at the membrane–water interface and allows monitoring of small shifts in the electron binding energy that indicate interaction with water. We observe deprotonation of free acid groups and formation of a ‘water complex’ with nitrogen groups in the polymer upon exposure of the membrane to water vapour. The chemical changes are reversed when water is removed from the membrane. While the correlation between functional groups and water uptake is an established one, this experiment serves to understand the nature of their chemical interaction, and opens up possibilities for tailoring future materials to specific requirements.

Authors:

Gericke, Sabrina M.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Gericke, Sabrina M."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-1373-6968"

Mulhearn, William D. ^[2]; Goodacre, Dana E.  ^[3];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Goodacre, Dana E."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-9750-3154"

Raso, Joseph ^[1]; Miller, Daniel J.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Miller, Daniel J."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-4245-3270"

Carver, Lauryn  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Carver, Lauryn"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-2807-7064"

Nemšák, Slavomír ^[4]; Karslıoğlu, Osman ^[1]; Trotochaud, Lena ^[1]; Bluhm, Hendrik ^[5]; Stafford, Christopher M.  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Stafford, Christopher M."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-9362-8707"

Buechner, Christin  ^[1]

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Buechner, Christin"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-9725-2671"

---

+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Chemical Sciences Division
2. National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD (United States)
3. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS); Univ. of Auckland (New Zealand)
4. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS)
5. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Chemical Sciences Division & Advanced Light Source (ALS)

Publication Date:

Mon Jun 29 00:00:00 EDT 2020

Research Org.:

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Office of Workforce Development for Teachers & Scientists (WDTS)

OSTI Identifier:

1775396

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1636145

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC02-05CH11231

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 22; Journal Issue: 27; Journal ID: ISSN 1463-9076

Publisher:

Royal Society of Chemistry

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY