Preparation of silica/polyethyleneimine inorganic–organic hybrid oil/water separation membranes via sol–gel method

Abstract

Silica/polyethyleneimine (PEI) inorganic–organic hybrid oil/water separation membranes were prepared by sol–gel method using tetramethoxysilane (TMOS), 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMOS) and PEI, and cross-linking reaction between glycidoxy functional group of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMOS) and amino functional group of PEI. The effects of TMOS content on the water flux and oil/water separation efficiency of the membranes were also investigated. Oil/water separation efficiency of PEI60TM10 (60 wt % PEI to GPTMOS, 1.0 molar ratio TMOS to GPTMOS) was high (96 %) and water flux was also high (680 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹). The hybrid oil/water separation membranes exhibit higher oil/water separation efficiency and higher water flux.