Thin film composite reverse osmosis (TFC RO) membranes (1 m breadth x 90 m length) were prepared by coating polyamide active layer over a porous polysulfone membrane using indigenous membrane casting and coating devices. The TFC membranes exhibited 56 +/- 9 l/m(2)h water flux and 96.7 +/- 0.6% salt rejection when tested with 2000 ppm NaCl feed at 250 psi pressure. The membrane structural information obtained using SEM, AFM, SANS, PALS. QENS, permeation experiments with organic markers, ATR-IR, and zeta-potential measurements was correlated with the variance in membrane flux and selectivity. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.