Nanofiltration (NF) membranes were prepared from a solution processable polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) between sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMCNa) and poly(2-methacryloyloxy ethyl trimethylammonium chloride) (PDMC). Electrostatic complexation structures of the PEC were studied by light transmittance and field emission electron scanning microscopy (FESEM). It is found that the electrostatic complexation structure of the PEC membranes determines their NF performance, which is conveniently tailored via the pH values of casting solutions. For membranes prepared at the optimum solution pH 2.1, their water flux and salt rejection to K2SO4 (1 g L−1) are 18 g m−2 h−1 and 97%, respectively, when the operation pressure and temperature are 0.6 MPa and 25 °C. Both the water permeability and the salt selectivity are substantially improved compared to the pristine CMCNa NF membrane. In addition, antifouling performance of the PEC membrane is improved, coupled with an exceptional stability versus the operation time.
