LAUSR

Abstract In this study, an avant-grade process for preparation of microfiltration membrane on the basis of a two-layered polyurethane (PU)/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanofibrous mat modified by multi-step interfacial polymerization was introduced. The effect of process parameters like monomer concentrations, reaction time, and the amount of reaction cycles, on the amount of polyamide formation (i.e. yield) were investigated. The pore sizes of the modified PU/PET electrospun nanofibrous based membranes, ranged in 0.25 and 0.46 μm, could be manipulated by these reaction parameters. These membranes have the capability to remove micro-particles and bacteria contamination simultaneously. In particular, the manufactured membrane could completely eliminate Stbl4 bacteria (∼98–99%) and micro-particles (∼96–99%) through size extrusion while maintaining a high permeation rate (∼46,500 (L/m2hbar) and ∼23,200 (L/m2hbar) for 0.46 μm and 0.25 μm, respectively). The performance of these nanofibrous membranes was compared to their commercial competitors. The results highlighted that the modified nanofibrous membranes represented superior twice/treble higher flux filtration performance in comparison with the commercial ones of the similar mean pore size. The extension mechanism of fibrous membranes was founded on the evolution of a webbed and spider webby architecture featuring a large surface area per volume for the exclusion and adsorption of contaminant particles.