Search

The thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membrane is a novel kind of membrane that has been extensively studied in recent years and broadly applied in desalination and wastewater treatment. The improvement of separation performance by optimizing the structure and morphology of NF membranes can significantly reduce energy consumption and bring more economic benefits. In this work, glutaraldehyde (GA) was used to crosslink polyethyleneimine (PEI) and dextran nanoparticles (DNPs) to construct an interfacial coating interlayer on polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration (UF) substrate. Subsequently, the polyamide (PA) NF membranes were fabricated by interfacial polymerization (IP) between piperazine (PIP) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC). DNPs were semi-encapsulated in the PEI coating and the exposed nanoparticles would be embedded in the PA layer for forming interfacial channels after IP. The interlayer not only affected the adsorption and diffusion of aqueous phase monomers to form a thin membrane, but also improved the membrane density to prevent selective defects associated with the incorporation of nanoparticles. The pure water permeance of the interlayered-TFC NF membrane was determined as 313.3 Lm−2h−1MPa−1, which was approximately four-fold that of the pristine membrane. The retention rate of various divalent salts of the NF membrane also significantly improved, and the retention rate of Na 2 SO 4 exceeded 99%. This innovative method of interlayer modification has exhibited great potential in rapid desalination and wastewater recovery, providing new possibilities for the preparation of industrial high-performance NF membranes. [Display omitted] • An innovative interlayer combining DNPs and PEI coating was successfully constructed. • DNPs were semi-encapsulated in the PEI coating to formed interfacial channels favorable for water passage. • The flux of the interlayer-modified NF membrane increased nearly 4 times with the retention rate of Na 2 SO 4 above 99%. • NF membrane exhibited excellent monovalent/divalent ion selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Polyimide (PI) membrane has been proven to be an efficient approach for solvent recovery. However, the inherent fragility of the PI membrane limits the range of separation conditions and process economics. In this study, copolyimides were synthesized from 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and 4,4′-biamino-3,3′-dimethyldiphenyl-methane (DMMDA) by chemical imidization in a two-step procedure. Then, a PI nanofiltration (NF) membrane was prepared through a phase-inversion process for solvent recovery from lube oil filtrates. The results indicated that the immersion of the PI (BTDA-DMMDA) NF membrane in a 1,6-diaminohexane/ethanol crosslinking agent solution carried on the chemical crosslinking modification, which could effectively improve the solvent resistance of the NF membrane. Moreover, the addition of inorganic salt in the polymer solution further enhanced the solvent resistance and pressure resistance of the membrane, which was favorable for the solvent recovery. The lubricant rejection was above 93%, and the solvent flux was about 30 L m−2 h−1 with the NF membrane prepared in optimum conditions, and this membrane showed great potential for future development in the application of solvent recovery from lube oil filtrates. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40338. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membrane is an excellent choice to solve water shortage based on the advantages of high flux and selective separation. However, the current NF membrane still causes a tremendous amount of energy consumption in the practical applications due to the limitation of flux. In this work, dextran nanoparticles (DNPs) with the cross-linked organic components, numerous hydrophilic groups and internal cavities were added into the aqueous phase solution, and novel NF membranes were fabricated by adjusting the concentration and particle size of DNPs to control the interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction. After modification, the decrease of membrane thickness and the increase of surface hydrophilicity improved the separation performance of NF membrane. The water flux of NF membrane with 0.5 wt% DNPs doping was up to 211.2 Lm−2h−1MPa−1, which was more than twice as high as the unmodified membrane with Na 2 SO 4 retention up to above 98%. It was also worth mentioning that the modified membrane indicated excellent monovalent/divalent ion selectivity and anti-fouling performance. This strategy of improving membrane performance by controlling the concentration and particle size of the aqueous phase additives with the advantages of simplicity and universality provides a certain impetus for the development of TFC membrane. • Dextran nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into the separation layer of NF membrane. • The water flux of the DNPs-modified NF membrane increased 2–3 times without sacrificing the Na 2 SO 4 retention. • The influence of the particle size and concentration of DNPs was discussed detailedly. • The anti-fouling performance and monovalent/divalent ion selectivity of the membrane improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel polyarylate NF membranes were prepared with oligomeric phenolic resin monomer. • NF membrane exhibited a high Na 2 SO 4 rejection rate and excellent chlorine-resistance. • The influence of preparation parameters on the NF membrane performance was investigated. Conventional water treatment polyamide nanofiltration (NF) membranes often suffer from the degradation of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in sewage or during the process of membrane cleaning and deteriorate the separation performance, which significantly increases the treatment cost. Herein, a novel polyacrylate composite NF membranes were prepared by interfacial polymerization using oligomeric phenolic resin (OPR) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) as aqueous and organic phase monomer respectively on the polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration supporting membranes. The fabrication parameters, including the pH of the aqueous solution, reaction time and the concentration of the monomer, on the performance of the composite NF membranes were optimized. A series of characterization indicated that the surface of the NF membranes was negatively charged, the molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) and the pore diameter of the polyacrylate membrane were 400 Da and 0.47 nm, respectively. At the optimized preparation conditions, the NF membrane exhibited high Na 2 SO 4 rejection of 98.2% and water flux of 2.42L·m−2·h−1·bar−1, which was superior to most of the polyacrylate NF membranes reported in recent years. Compared with the polyamide membrane, the prepared polyacrylate membrane demonstrated better chlorine-resistant property and still maintained 92.0% Na 2 SO 4 rejection after being treated with NaOCl solution. Moreover, the NF membrane preserved excellent long-term operation stability. The chlorine-resistant NF membrane constructed from OPR monomer has a broad application prospect in the field of high chlorine wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofiltration (NF) membrane is of great significance for desalination of light brine and purification of drinking water. Although the development of novel preparation methods and membrane materials has improved the separation performance, it is still a major challenge to promote NF membrane toward industrial production with simpler and more controllable process. Herein, the polyphenol intermediate layer was designed by 5,5′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethyl-1,1′-spirobisindane (TTSBI) with twist structure and polyethyleneimine (PEI) co-deposition to increase the surface hydrophilicity and electropositivity of the polysulfone ultrafiltration substrate. Subsequently interfacial polymerization (IP) was carried out on the polyphenol intermediate layer to assemble a polyamide ultrathin selective layer using trimesoyl chloride and piperazine monomer. Through adjusting the co-deposition time of TTSB and PEI, a unique nano-pleated structure was successfully formed on the thin-film composite membrane surface. The water permeance of the membrane was determined as 23.7 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 with 99.4% Na 2 SO 4 rejection, which was almost triple fold of the flux of the controller membrane without the intermediate layer. Our results provide an efficient and convenient way to fabricate the advanced NF membrane with higher divalent/monovalent ion selectivity and water permeance simultaneously, which will provide advices for the gas separation and pervaporation membranes with the IP method. • Novel TTSBI-PEI interlayer-based polyamide membrane was fabricated by interfacial polymerization. • The nano-pleated structure on the selective layer improved the water flux without deterioration of Na 2 SO 4 rejection. • The novel nanofiltration membrane exhibited excellent long-term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofiltration membrane was prepared via non-organic solvent method using natural product tannic acid. • Nanofiltration membrane prepared from nature-derived tannic acid and cyclohexane-1,4-diamine. • Formation mechanisms, i.e. Michael addition and Schiff base formation, were confirmed. • The membrane has 97% and 50.7% rejections for Na 2 SO 4 and NaCl and a water flux at 35 LMH. • Membrane cleaning showed stability in both alkaline and acidic pH. • Membrane showed fouling tendency due to high surface roughness. Conventional nanofiltration membrane fabrication generally includes the usage of toxic organic solvent that poses threats to the environment and public health. Herein, we explored preparing nanofiltration membrane through a non-organic solvent method utilizing the highly reactive natural product, tannic acid (TA), along with cyclohexane-1,4-diamine (CHD). Fabrication process was carried out through sequential immersion of a polyethersulfone (PES) support in two aqueous monomer phases. The absence of a solvent interface facilitated the diffusion and mixing of the two monomers, and the highly reactive quinone derivative of TA enabled the rapid film formation via Michael addition and Schiff base formation. Membrane performance was optimized through investigation of fabrication parameters. The TA-CHD membrane exhibited a negatively charged surface, with a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of 600 Da. The membrane prepared at optimal conditions showed approximate 97% and 50.7% rejections towards Na 2 SO 4 and NaCl, with a water flux at approximate 35 L m−2 h−1 (10 bar). Fouling behaviour of the TA-CHD membrane was studied and a chemical cleaning test under two extreme pH was performed to demonstrate the chemical stability. The proposed non-organic solvent method here provides an eco-friendly way to utilize the potential of polyphenol natural products in water purification membrane preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Monomers developed in recent years for preparation of TFC membranes is summarized. • The relationship between monomer structure and membrane properties is established. • The application problems of the IP monomers are summarized. • The outlook for future development of the monomer is also discussed. The thin-film composite (TFC) membranes fabricated by interfacial polymerization (IP) can be applied in the fields of nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO), which has the unparalleled advantages, such as high selectivity and permeability, small capital investment and low energy consumption, thus attracting great research interest in industry and academia field. The performance of TFC membranes is determined by their microstructure and physicochemical properties while IP monomer plays a decisive role regarding both. Over the past few decades, the researchers have paid intensive and sustained efforts to develop new IP monomers. This paper reviews these monomers and the corresponding membranes developed in recent years with the aim of establishing an intrinsic relationship between monomer structure and membrane properties. The excellent performances based on new monomers in enhancing the permeability, selectivity, anti-fouling and chemical stability of NF and RO membranes for liquid treatment are highlighted. Finally, various problems in the monomer development are summarized and the outlook for future development is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel polyamide loose NF membrane was prepared from aqueous monomer (piperazine-2-carboxylic acid). • The loose NF membrane formation mechanism was clarified. • The loose NF membrane exhibited high water permeance and outstanding separation selectivity of dye/salt. • The loose NF membrane demonstrated excellent antifouling performance. Dye effluent is regarded as one of the most hazardous industrial effluents. Although loose nanofiltration (NF) membranes have been considered as an effective alternative technique for treating dye effluent, their development is still constrained by subpar permeance, separation efficiency and anti-fouling performance. In this work, a novel loose polyamide (PA) NF membrane was designed employing a conventional interfacial polymerization process using piperazine-2-carboxylic acid (PIP-COOH) and trimesoyl chloride as aqueous and organic phase monomers, respectively. The presence of unique electron-absorbing carboxyl groups on the PIP-COOH monomer not only provided abundant negative charge on the membrane surface, but also greatly reduced the reactivity, diffusion rate and solubility in n-hexane of the aqueous monomer, allowing for the formation of a more relaxed and smoother active layer. The balanced combination of pore size screening and Donnan effect achieved precise separations with high permeability. Moreover, the interaction of the carboxyl groups with the backbone structure increased the free volume of the PA layer and improved permeability significantly. The PIP-COOH/TMC membrane prepared under the optimal conditions exhibited high water permeance of 598.1 L·m−2·h−1·MPa−1, high reactive red rejection (99.3%) and low NaCl rejection (5.4%). Furthermore, the membrane possessed exceptional anti-fouling performance thanks to the ultra-smooth surface with crucial antifouling index flux recovery ratio as high as about 99%, which showed unexpected application possibilities. In conclusion, this study offers a potential novel membrane material for the development and application of loose NF membranes in the treatment of colored effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mg2+/Li+ screening selectivity determines the practical application of nanofiltration technology in lithium extraction from salt-lake brines and industrial lithium production. In this work, a membrane structure design strategy based on the interlayers was developed to prepare nanofiltration (NF) membranes with high Mg2+/Li+ separation selectivity and high permeability. Through investigating the influence of the interlayer charge on the structure and performance of the NF membrane, the interlayer for the preparation of the NF membrane with high Mg2+/Li + separation selectivity was screened. Relevant characterizations indicate that the positively charged interlayer can endow the NF membrane with appropriate pore size and surface charge density to achieve high Mg2+/Li+ separation selectivity through the synergistic effect of size sieving and Donnan exclusion. Moreover, the pore size of the NF membrane is controlled by the release rate of the piperazine (PIP) from the interlayer, while the surface charge density of the NF membrane is jointly determined by the charge of the interlayer and PA layer. The performance evaluation suggests that the NF membrane prepared with the best screened interlayer has a Mg2+/Li+ separation factor up to 88.6 while maintaining a high permeability (22.5 L m−2 h−1·bar−1), which is better than that of the most membranes reported in the literature. Overall, this work is expected to promote the practical application of NF membranes in lithium extraction from salt-lake brines and industrial lithium production. [Display omitted] • The positively charged interlayer can endow the NF membrane with very high Mg2+/Li+ separation selectivity (88.6). • The interlayer regulates the pore size of the NF membrane by controlling the release rate of PIP from the interlayer. • The surface charge density of the NF membrane is jointly determined by the interlayer and the PA layer. • The high Mg2+/Li+ separation selectivity is mainly attributed to the synergy between the size sieving and Donnan exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nanofiltration composite membrane shows excellent permeability and solvent resistance was prepared on PI/Noria composite ultrafiltration membrane. • Noria in PI solution can migrate to composite ultrafiltration membrane surface during non-solvent-induced phase separation and act as an interlayer, which can regulate the following interfacial polymerization. • This process omits the preparation process of the interlayer, making the preparation process simpler. • Due to the special composite surface structure, the interlayer is removed, which avoids the disadvantage of weak bonding force between the separation layer and the support layer caused by the existence of the interlayer. Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membrane, a type of thin film composite (TFC) membrane, is widely used in separating organic solvents, but the low permeability of organic solvents is currently challenging to solve. This experiment used cross-linked polyimide (PI) as raw material and Noria as a nanoparticle additive to prepare a composite ultrafiltration membrane through non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS). Noria migrated to the composite ultrafiltration membrane surface during NIPS and acted as an interlayer, which can regulate the following interfacial polymerization. Then, the nanofiltration membrane was prepared by interfacial polymerization method using the modified PI membrane as the support layer. The experimental results showed that the hydrophilicity of the PI/Noria composite ultrafiltration membrane was significantly enhanced, in addition to a significant increase in pure water flux to 239 L m-2h-1bar−1. The methanol flux of the prepared composite nanofiltration membrane could be up to 5.472 L m-2h-1bar−1, which was twice as high as that of the unmodified composite membrane, and the G250 dye retention rate remained at over 99.6%. The nanofiltration performance is excellent and has good prospects for application in OSN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulation of interfacial polymerization (IP) is the critical procedure for the preparation and industrialization of thin film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membranes. However, the IP control is still a huge challenge based on the extremely rapid reaction rate during the fabrication of the membrane. Herein, a new strategy was developed to modulate the IP process to increase the NF membrane performance. The aldehyde oxidized dextran (ODex) interlayer was deposited on the polysulfone ultrafiltration substrate, and the enamine would form between the secondary amines of aqueous phase monomer piperazine (PIP) and aldehyde groups of the ODex. Based on the by-products of IP, the enamine gradually decomposed reversibly in a hydrogen ion environment and the immobilized PIP was released and continued to react with organic phase monomer trimesoyl chloride (TMC). Accordingly, a thinner and exhibiting nanowire structures separation layer with fewer defects was obtained. The permeance of the optimal NF membrane with 0.7 wt% ODex interlayer deposition concentration could reach up to 208 ± 10.4 Lm−2h−1MPa−1, which was more than 2.5 times permeance of the ordinary NF membrane, and the rejection rate for Na 2 SO 4 could reach 99.3 ± 0.3%. In addition, the mono- and divalent ion selectivity of the modified membrane was also greatly improved (α NaCl/Na2SO4 = 115). This study provides a new idea for the regulation of IP process, thereby suggesting a reasonable proposal for improving the performance of TFC NF membranes. [Display omitted] •The enamine was formed between the secondary amines of piperazine and the aldehyde group on the oxidized dextran interlayer. •The interfacial polymerization procedure was effectively regulated by a reversible enamine reaction. •The effect of enamine reversible reaction on the structure of nanofiltration membrane was discussed in detail. •The performance of modified NF membranes for monovalent/divalent salts selectivity was significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Carboxylated starch nanoparticles (CSNPs) were synthesized and embedded in the separation layer of the nanofiltration membrane. • The aggregated or large CSNPs adsorb the aqueous phase to build an aqueous template during the interfacial polymerization transferring the reaction interface. • The compatibility problem of nanoparticles and separation layer was effectively solved. • The S NaCl/Na2SO4 of the modified nanofiltration membrane reached 180 with more than 2 times improvement in flux. The challenge of poor compatibility between nanoparticles and separation layers in thin film nanocomposite (TFN) nanofiltration (NF) membranes has always plagued the researchers. In this work, a carboxylated starch nanoparticles (CSNPs) were introduced into the polyamide (PA) separation layer of NF membrane by the IP reaction between trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and piperazine (PIP). The agglomerated or large size CSNPs could transfer the reaction interface above the particles through the formation of a water template by adsorption of aqueous phase monomers, which shaped the defect-free separation layer. Furthermore, the reduced thickness and increased density of the separation layer greatly enhanced the separation selectivity of the nanofiltration membrane thanks to the introduction of hydrophilic groups of nanoparticles. The modified membrane achieved a nearly 5-fold improvement in separation selectivity for NaCl and Na 2 SO 4 (S NaCl/Na2SO4 = 180) and a 2-fold increase in the water permeance. In addition, the modified NF membrane also possessed better chlorine-resistance property based on the formation of polyarylester between the reaction of hydroxyl groups in CSNPs and acyl chloride groups in TMC. Such novel aqueous-phase additives provide new insights to effectively solve the compatibility problem between the nanoparticles and separation layers, which is favorable for the commercial production of NF membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the global demand for lithium resources has grown substantially due to the rapid development of the new energy industry. The nanofiltration (NF) technique is a feasible method to extract lithium from salt-lake brine, and the high Mg2+/Li+ separation selectivity of the NF membrane is the crucial factor in the NF separation process. In this work, the polyamide (PA) layer was prepared on the polyphenol/PEI interlayer-modified polysulfone (PSF) substrate to endow the NF membrane with decreased pore size and weakened electronegativity. Enhanced steric hindrance effect and reduced electrostatic attraction between Mg2+ and PA layer increased the Mg2+ rejection, thereby improving the Mg2+/Li+ separation factor of the NF membrane. Furthermore, the positively charged polyphenol/PEI interlayer hindered the permeation of Mg2+ through the Donnan effect, further enhancing the Mg2+/Li + separation factor. A separation factor up to 50.7 for Mg2+/Li+ was achieved by extracting lithium from simulated brine using the obtained NF membrane. In addition, the NF membrane exhibited a permeability of 18.6 L m−2 h−1·bar−1 and excellent long-term stability, which greatly improved the Mg2+/Li+ separation efficiency and reduced energy consumption. Therefore, this work provides a simple strategy for preparing NF membranes with high Mg2+/Li+ separation factor and permeability. [Display omitted] • Dual-electric layer NF membranes with positively charged interlayer and negatively charged separation layer. • The high Mg2+/Li+ separation selectivity is attributed to the synergy between the steric hindrance effect and Donnan exclusion. • The Mg2+/Li+ selectivity of NF membranes can be adjusted by changing the preparation conditions of the interlayer. • Permeability - selectivity trade-off was well addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin-film composite (TFC) membranes show great potential in dye nanofiltration but their performance still required further improvement. In this work, ultra-small EMT zeolite nanocrystals were embedded into the interfacial polymerized polyamide (PA) layer supported on porous nylon via spray dispersion method and used in dye separation. Ultra-small nanosized EMT zeolite crystals with plate-like morphology were synthesized from organic-free precursor suspensions at ambient conditions (30 °C). The plate-like EMT nanocrystals were homogeneously dispersed in the thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes, mitigating the formation of agglomerates during the interfacial polymerization. The TFN membrane prepared with 0.05 w/v % EMT nanocrystals had a water permeance up to 24.37 L m-2 h-1 bar-1, which is nearly 6 times higher than the pristine PA TFC membrane, and maintain the dye rejection (crystal violet) of 99.98 %. A new method for preparation of high quality TFN membranes containing zeolite nanocrystals was developed. The potential use of the TFN membranes with the ultra-small zeolite crystals for dye nanofiltration was demonstrated. Thin-film nanocomposite membranes by spraying zeolite nanocrystals in polyamide possess high permeability and high stability in nanofiltration performance. Image 1 • The TFN membranes based on EMT zeolite possess highly improved water permeance without sacrifice of dye rejection. • The spray method promotes EMT homogeneous dispersion in the polyamide. • The high compatibility between the ultra-small EMT zeolite and polyamide avoids the non-selective interface voids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In membrane process, the lateral transport path of water molecule through substrate has a great impact on the permeance of thin-film composite (TFC) membrane, thus the optimization of substrate by constructing interlayer without affecting its pore structure is desired. Here, we report a facile, scalable and universal surface grafting strategy based on a diazonium-induced anchoring process (DIAP), for which an ultra-thin polyaminophenylene (PAP)-like layer is covalently grafted on the substrate. The PAP-like layer significantly increases the wettability of surface and pore as well as surface positive charges of substrate, but has little influence on its surface pore size and structure. Moreover, the effects of the anchored PAP-like layer on the distribution, release and uptake of piperazine (PIP) monomers during interfacial polymerization (IP) process are investigated systematically. The polyamide (PA) nanofiltration (NF) membrane made on this substrate features a highly cross-linked, thinner and smoother PA layer with less PA invasive, and highlights a 2-fold water flux increase and simultaneously enhanced divalent salts (Na 2 SO 4 , MgSO 4 and MgCl 2) rejections (above 98.0%). Thus, combined with the superior structural stability and antifouling property, the obtained TFC membrane holds great potential in water softening and household water purification. • A facile and versatile surface grafting strategy is proposed. • The covalently grafted interlayer plays pivotal roles in the IP process. • A highly permeable PA membrane is prepared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The HKUST-1 interlayer improves the hydrophilicity and porosity of the support membrane. • The HKUST-1 interlayer controls the diffusion of piperazine during interfacial polymerization. • TFC membranes with HKUST-1 interlayer significantly increase the penetration flux of organic solvents. Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) has a good application prospect in the field of organic solvent separation, but low organic solvent permeance is the main obstacle restricting its application. This work reports a thin film composite (TFC) nanofiltration membrane prepared by interfacial polymerization (IP) on the HKUST-1 MOF interlayer grown in situ on a crosslinked polyimide (PI) substrate. The MOF interlayer improves the hydrophilicity and porosity of the support membrane. In addition, the MOF interlayer controls the diffusion of piperazine (PIP) during the IP process, which induced to form a thin and highly crosslinked polyamide (PA) separation layer. The increased effective membrane area and the reduced thickness of PA separation layer resulted in a methanol permeation flux up to 9.59 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1, while maintaining the rejection of the negatively charged Brilliant Blue G 250 dye (MW = 858.05 g·mol−1) at 98.8%. Furthermore, the stability of the TFC membranes in polar aprotic solvents such as N, N-dimethylformamide highlights their potential for OSN applications in chemical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation of highly permeable and selective organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membranes is desired for precise chemical separations. Although the emerging nanomaterials and novel preparation methods have significantly boosted the membrane performance, it still requires much effort to drive them toward scale-up production with lower cost and easier preparation process. Herein, we constructed a polyarylate membrane from one kind of porous organic cage, namely Noria through traditional interfacial polymerization technique. Under the catalysis of triethylamine, Noria in aqueous phase would react with terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) in hexane to form a dense nano-film. The inner cavity of Noria molecule provided nano-channel for both polar and non-polar solvents to transport through the membrane. Specially, the Noria + TPC membrane exhibits a high permeance for methanol up to 18 L m−2h−1bar−1. This is resulted from the low interaction energy between methanol and Noria as revealed by the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. In addition to the excellent performance, the simple preparation process with low-cost materials suggests the great potential of Noria + TPC membrane for practical application. Moreover, it would inspire the exploration of other molecules with tailored chemical structures for the assembly of high-performance membranes in future. Image 1 • The OSN membrane was synthesized via interfacial polymerization of a porous organic cage with acyl chloride. • The molecular cavity of Noria provided nano-channel for the transport of both polar and non-polar solvents. • The MD simulation revealed the mechanism for the high permeance of methanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The POC was employed to tailor the support for the fabrication of NF membrane. • The support surface pore could be re-structured by alkaline solution. • The NF membrane fabricated on etched support depicted excellent performance. The support layer have been recently recognized as an important factor in tailoring the performance of thin film composite membranes, but until now limited methods are available to optimize the support properties for the fabrication of high-performance nanofiltration (NF) membrane. Herein, Noria, one kind of porous organic cages, was employed as the filler to prepare Noria hybrid polysulfone (PSF) support through non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS). Owing to its good solubility in N-methylpyrrolidone, the blended Noria could distribute in the dope solution homogeneously and the structure and surface properties of the resulting support were finely tuned. Assisted from the inner cavity of Noria as well as enhanced hydrophilicity, the pure water flux of support membrane with a Noria loading of 3.60 wt% reached 125 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, which was nearly 2.5-fold higher than the pristine one. In addition to that entrapped in the PSF chains, a mass of Noria molecules aggregated on support surface during the NIPS process and they could be further etched by alkaline solution, in situ enlarging the surface pore size. After the interfacial polymerization (IP), the NF membrane fabricated on the etched support depicted excellent performance compared with those incorporated with other fillers either in the support or in the polyamide layer. Furthermore, this study could promote the understanding about the role of support in the IP process for the preparation of TFC membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]