Benzene diamine-crosslinked PVC/polycarbonate nanofiltration membranes with enhanced antifouling performance for emerging contaminant removal and water purification

The crosslinking of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with polycarbonate (PC) polymers was successfully achieved through a two-step reaction involving the attachment of benzene diamine to polyvinyl chloride, followed by linkage with polycarbonate. The resulting polymer was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of characteristic functional groups, indicating successful crosslinking. TGA and DSC analyses demonstrated enhanced thermal stability, with degradation occurring at elevated temperatures. The crosslinked PVC-PC polymer was then electrospun into nanofibrous membranes, which exhibited high water flux, excellent anti-fouling properties, and efficient salt rejection. The membranes also demonstrated significant removal of heavy metals and pharmaceutical contaminants from water, highlighting their potential in water purification applications. These findings suggest that the crosslinked PVC-PC polymer is a promising material for advanced membrane-based filtration technologies.