Photo-polymerization as a new approach to fabricate the active layer of forward osmosis membrane.

A novel approach is employed to prepare the active layer of the forward osmosis membrane by the photo-polymerization method. The poly (ethylene glycol) phenyl ether acrylate (PPEA) and methacrylic acid (MAA) are used as monomers. The emphasis is given to analysing the effect of monomer concentration on chemical functional groups of active layer, thermal stability, surface morphology, roughness, interfacial free energy, organic fouling tendency and osmotic flux performance.