(401aa) Enhancing Nanofiltration Performance of Thin Film Nanocomposite Membranes with Surfactant-Modified MoS2

The increasing demand for freshwater, driven by rapid industrialization and urban growth, has put global water resources under strain. Desalination, especially of brackish water, presents a viable solution, but conventional reverse osmosis (RO) membranes face several limitations. These membranes are not only energy-intensive and costly but also produce a high amount of wasted feed streams. However, Nanofiltration (NF) membranes offer a more sustainable alternative, delivering lower costs and higher throughput, making them increasingly popular in brackish water desalination research. This study addresses the challenge of improving the efficiency of membrane performance without sacrificing energy efficiency or desalination capacity. Although thin film composite (TFC) and thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes are widely used, achieving an optimal balance between cost-effectiveness, performance, and longevity remains difficult. Our approach enhances TFN membranes by incorporating surfactant-modified MoS₂ nanoparticles into the polyamide layer. Comprehensive material analysis through AFM, XRD, FTIR, FESEM, zeta potential, and contact angle measurements demonstrated that incorporating surfactant-modified MoS₂ nanoparticles improved surface roughness and increased volumetric throughput while maintaining excellent salt rejection. Additionally, studies with real-life brackish water confirmed the enhanced desalination performance of the TFN membranes. This study presents a promising, scalable solution to improve NF membrane performance, demonstrating the potential to push the boundaries of brackish water desalination technologies.