Overcoming the inherent permeability–selectivity trade−off is essential to broaden the practical application of polyamide (PA) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes in brackish water desalination. In this study, we developed a facile and cost-effective alkaline (NaOH) post-treatment method to fabricate high−performance loose-structured RO membranes. The NaOH post−treatment hydrolyzed part of the amide bonds within the membrane, converting them to negatively charged carboxyl groups. This process led to a slight increase in pore size and the formation of a looser structure. Molecular weight cut−off (MWCO) measurements confirmed that the pore size slightly increased from 0.19 nm to 0.21 nm, while X−ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and zeta potential measurements confirmed the conversion of amide bonds to carboxyl groups, which further enhanced the surface electronegativity. The synergistic effects of pore size enlargement and surface charge modification were elucidated as the key mechanisms for performance enhancement. The TPA membrane exhibited a 2−fold increase in water permeance (from 1.05 to 3.21 L m−2 h−1 bar−1), while the enhanced surface negative charge contributed to maintaining a high NaCl rejection of 98.5%. Additionally, the membrane also exhibited excellent pH stability as well as long-term stability over 100 h of continuous operation. This easily scalable post−treatment strategy offers a low−cost route to fabricate loose-structured membranes, with significant potential to enhance efficiency and reduce costs in brackish water desalination.
Li et al. (2026) studied this question.