Design and Performance of Hydrophilic Poly(Aryl Ether Oxadiazole) Ultrafiltration Membranes With Good Antifouling Properties

ABSTRACT To develop high‐performance antifouling ultrafiltration membrane materials, a novel poly(aryl ether oxadiazole) (PAEO) was designed and prepared. Subsequently, a modified poly(aryl ether oxadiazole) containing phenolic hydroxyl groups (PAEO‐OH) was further synthesized by reacting the oxadiazole ring with the amino group at high temperature. The introduction of hydroxyl groups in PAEO‐OH enhanced its hydrophilicity and increased the pure water flux compared to the 3‐PAEO membrane, while maintaining a rejection ratio exceeding 90%. The antifouling performance of the 3‐PAEO‐OH membrane was evaluated using a three‐cycle ultrafiltration experiment, which showed over 90% reversible fouling and more than 80% flux recovery, highlighting its excellent antifouling characteristics. Additionally, the antifouling and separation performance of the PAEO‐OH membrane, prepared with varying PVP content, was analyzed. The results revealed that optimal performance was achieved with a PVP content of 4.5 wt.%. In conclusion, the PAEO‐OH membrane demonstrates significant potential for various applications in industrial separation and purification processes.