Appropriate　membranes　are　crucial　to　maximize　the　potential　of　forward　osmosis　(FO)　in　water　treatment.　In　this　study,　high-performance　and　well-constructed　thin-film　composite　(TFC)　FO　membranes　were　developed　via　chemical　modifications　for　FO　desalination.　The　newly　developed　membranes　consist　of　an　aniline　sulfonate/bisulfonate　functionalized　polyamide　layer　formed　by　interfacial　polymerization　on　a　poly(ether　sulfone)　(PES)　support.　Aniline　sulfonate/bisulfonates　were　covalently　bonded　to　the　nascent　polyamide　layer　by　the　acylation　reaction　between　primary　amine　and　acyl　chloride　groups.　The　novel　membranes　have　more　hydrophilic　and　smoother　surfaces　which　are　important　to　increase　antifouling　capability,　thus　conducing　to　improved　water　transfer　rates.　The　2,5-disulfoaniline　disodium　salt　(DSA-2Na)　modified　membrane　produced　water　fluxes　71.5%　and　52.0%　higher　than　the　pristine　membrane　under　the　respective　PRO　(draw　solution　facing　the　active　layer)　and　FO　(feed　solution　facing　the　active　layer)　modes　against　DI　water.　With　simulated　seawater　as　the　feed　and　2.0　M　MgCl2　as　the　draw　solution,　DSA-2Na　modified　membrane　created　a　water　flux　of　16.7　LMH　(FO　mode),　a　36%　increase　compared　to　the　pristine　membrane　with　a　water　flux　of　12.3　LMH.　This　is　comparable　to　the　best　value　reported　for　seawater　desalination,　indicating　the　superiority　of　the　aromatic　sulfonate/bisulfonate　materials　functionalized　membranes　in　FO　membrane　separation.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.