We report on a new fabrication method of polyamide thin film composite RO membranes, so called support-free interfacial polymerization (SFIP). In SFIP method, the PA layer is first formed at the interface without a porous support, and then adhered onto a support unlike conventional IP where the PA layer is in-situ formed directly on a support. We control the surface chemistry of a PAN support by adjusting hydrolysis to maximize adhesion of the PA layer with the support. The SFIP-assembled membrane showed higher performance and unique surface morphology compared to conventional IP-assembled one. It allows facile characterization of the PA layer and PA-support interface together with well-defining each component. Therefore, SFIP provide an promising material platform for the fabrication of RO membranes and fundament study.

• 박성준(고려대학교 화공생명공학과, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Korea University) | Sung-Joon Park
• 권순진(고려대학교 화공생명공학과, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Korea University) | Soon-Jin Kwon
• 이정현(고려대학교 화공생명공학과, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Korea University) | Jung-Hyun Lee