COMPOSITE MEMBRANES FORMED BY PLASMA-POLYMERIZED ACRYLIC-ACID FOR ULTRAFILTRATION OF BLEACH EFFLUENT

Composite membranes were formed by deposition of plasma-polymerized acrylic acid (PPAA) films onto porous commercial membranes to improve the rejection, especially of chlorinated compounds, in ultrafiltration of E-stage bleach effluent. Although increased rejections were accompanied by reduced flux, in most cases, the reductions were not significant considering the extent of increased rejections. A good composite membrane showed the AOX removal of 94% (76% before the modification) and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 84% (67% before the modification) with 33% reduction of the flux. The permeate was optically clean. The improved rejection is attributed to the tightly cross-linked network of a plasma polymer film and its negatively charged surface. Ultrathin film thickness and the hydrophilic property of a plasma polymer film minimize the reduction of flux.