Novel Hollow Mesoporous Silica Spheres/Polymer Hybrid Membrane for Ultrafiltration

A novel hybrid ultrafiltration membrane was prepared by incorporating hollow mesoporous silica spheres (HMSS) into a polymer matrix of brominated polyphenylene oxide (BPPO) using triethanolamine as the amination agent. The hybrid membrane exhibits improved water permeability, thermal stability, and water content, while the rejection to egg albumin maintaining at a high level (>90%). Especially when the addition of HMSS is 1.0 wt %, the water flux of the hybrid membrane reaches a maximum that is almost two times that of the BPPO membrane. The unique properties of HMSS and good interaction between HMSS and polymer contribute to the improvement of membrane performance. The effect of the structures of silica particles on the membrane performance was also investigated, and the results suggest that HMSS with moderate wall thickness is more suitable for the optimization of hybrid membrane properties.