POS9-0299
Saponin-assisted fabrication of high-performance and antifouling reverse osmosis membranes
Topic
S9. Polymer Technology for Sustainability
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Wonhee Jo (Korea university)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes require both high separation performance and strong fouling resistance for practical water treatment applications. In this study, a plant-derived biosurfactant, saponin (SAP), was employed as an additive during interfacial polymerization to fabricate RO membranes. The presence of SAP reduces the interfacial tension between the aqueous and organic phases, promoting amine monomer diffusion and facilitating the formation of an optimized polyamide (PA) selective layer with enhanced water permeability. Moreover, SAP incorporated into the PA layer increases hydrophilicity and imparts intrinsic antibacterial activity to the membrane, resulting in improved resistance to both organic and biological fouling. This facile and sustainable strategy demonstrates the potential of natural biosurfactants for tailoring membrane structure and functionality in advanced separation processes.
