Polybenzimidazole Membrane Crosslinked with Epoxy-Containing Inorganic Networks for Organic Solvent Nanofiltration and Aqueous Nanofiltration under Extreme Basic Conditions.

In this study, a novel polybenzimidazole (PBI)-based organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membrane possessing excellent stability under high pH condition was developed. To improve the chemical stability, the pristine PBI membrane was crosslinked with a silane precursor containing an epoxy end group. In detail, hydrolysis and condensation reaction of methoxysilane in the 3-glycidyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) yields organic-inorganic networks within the PBI membrane structure.