While current water desalination membranes, made of polyamide composites, perform at high levels, they are chemically unstable to defouling and cleaning agents, including NaOCl, HCl, and NaOH. In this work, triazoles are used to create chemically stable main chain functional group linkages. Given their chemical and oxidative stability, ease of synthesis, and the fast reaction rate of the copper catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) “click” reaction, triazoles are potentially an excellent linker in interfacial polymerization and membrane formation. Representative triazoles were subjected to various conditions mimicking water pretreatment processes. Conditions were developed for interfacial CuAAC “click” polymerization. Additionally, polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs), whose highly contorted and rigid structure leads to inefficient packing in the solid state and thus creating micropores (&lt; 2 nm) and a large, accessible surface area, have demonstrated excellent gas and solvent separation properties when compared to other materials. PIM-like monomers containing spirocenters have been functionalized with “clickable” azide and alkyne groups and investigated in interfacial polymerization. Overall, this work brings new, robust, and scalable chemistry to water purification, based on CuAAC “click” chemistry. Monomer design can be readily tuned to influence bulk properties, because azides and alkynes can be introduced easily. Ultimately, this will lead to polymers with excellent chemical resistance and thermal stability as ultra-thin membranes via interfacial polymerization.

Click chemistry toward stable reverse osmosis membranes for water desalination

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.