Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
C. Vargas-Figueroa, Luis Pino-Soto, Angelo Beratto-Ramos, B. L. Rivas, Y. Tapiero, Daniel A. Palacio, M. F. Melendrez, R. Borquez
Summary: This study modified NF90 and NF270 nanofiltration membranes through interpenetrating polymer networks, and the best modified NF90 membrane showed an increase in water flux by 84.3% and chloride rejection by 0.6% compared to the commercial membrane. Additionally, the best membrane modification achieved a 300% increase in seawater permeability without sacrificing the high rejections of the original membranes. This work provides a guide for improving the permeability of NF membranes without sacrificing higher species rejection through modification with interpenetrating polymers.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yanling Liu, Kunpeng Wang, Zixuan Zhou, Xinxin Wei, Shengji Xia, Xiao-mao Wang, Yuefeng F. Xie, Xia Huang
Summary: Nanofiltration (NF) processes have been crucial in advanced water and wastewater treatment due to their high membrane performance in rejecting organic micropollutants (OMPs) while allowing water permeation and passage of mineral salts. However, the trade-off effect between water permeance and water/OMP selectivity for state-of-the-art membranes remains poorly understood.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yvonne Thiermeyer, Stefanie Blumenschein, Mirko Skiborowski
Summary: The study provides insights into the solvent-dependent rejection phenomena and the impact of solvent-membrane interactions on transport phenomena in organic solvent nanofiltration. By conducting comprehensive experimental investigations on polyimide membranes, solutes, and solvents, the results contribute to a better understanding of mass transfer through OSN membranes.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhiqiang Wang, Yawei Gao, Jinsong Zhang, Zanguo Peng, Xiao-mao Wang, Shuming Liu, Xia Huang
Summary: Surface modification via secondary interfacial polymerization is a promising technology for enhancing nanofiltration membrane performance. The introduction of sulfonic groups into the active layer of the membranes using sulfuryl chloride improves the membrane's surface charge density, pore size distribution, hydrophilicity, and rejection selectivity. The SC-modified membranes show potential for advanced treatment of drinking water.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zihui Wang, Langming Bai, Jinlong Wang, Heng Liang, Guibai Li
Summary: In this study, a photo-assisted crosslinked NF membrane with a regulated interlaced stripe surface morphology was fabricated. The optimal membrane with AMPS molecules carrying sulfonyl groups crosslinked in the PA network showed improved water permeability, fouling resistance, and chlorine tolerance.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shiyang Huang, James A. McDonald, Rhiannon P. Kuchel, Stuart J. Khan, Greg Leslie, Chuyang Y. Tang, Jaleh Mansouri, Anthony G. Fane
Summary: Surface modification of nanofiltration (NF) membranes using polydopamine (PDA) has shown potential to enhance removal of organic micropollutants (OMs). Thicker, denser, and more hydrophilic PDA coatings resulted in reduced transmissions of target OMs, with neutral hydrophobic compounds showing lower transmissions for longer PDA coating (PDA4), and neutral hydrophilic compounds showing lower transmissions for shorter PDA coating (PDA0.5).Competing effects provided by the PDA coatings, including sealing defects and weakened hydrophobic adsorption, influenced the transmission rates of OMs. PDA4 coating demonstrated the lowest transmission for charged compounds, reducing OM transmission by 70% with minimal decline in water permeance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arijit Sengupta, Mahmood Jebur, Mohanad Kamaz, S. Ranil Wickramasinghe
Summary: Water is a valuable resource, and the presence of emerging contaminants in wastewater is a concern for their removal. Membrane bioreactors play an important role in wastewater treatment, but the level of removal of emerging contaminants needs to be studied. Biotransformation and adsorption are the main mechanisms of removal, and the capability of microorganisms also affects the removal efficiency.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Yuxin Lu, Xiang Li, Cagnetta Giovanni, Bo Wang
Summary: The presence of emerging organic contaminants in water is a major threat to its safety. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown potential for removing these contaminants, but their practical application in wastewater treatment is still debated. This review summarizes recent studies on the use of MOFs for EOCs removal, focusing on synthesis strategies, characterization technologies, as well as their application in adsorption, separation, and catalytic degradation. Overall, MOF-based composites show promise in eliminating EOCs, with modified membranes being the most promising materials for future applications.
FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Liang Ren, Jianxin Chen, Jian Han, Jinsheng Liang, Hong Wu
Summary: In this study, a custom-tailored nanochannels strategy was used to form two-dimensional covalent organic framework nanosheets (COFNs) with positively charged, narrowed, and lithiophilic channels. These nanosheets were easily assembled into defect-free and oriented covalent organic framework membranes (COFMs) via vacuum-assisted filtration method. The resulting COFMs exhibited excellent performance in ion separation.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Tianrun Gu, Runnan Zhang, Shiyu Zhang, Benbing Shi, Junhui Zhao, Zhen Wang, Mengying Long, Guangzhe Wang, Ting Qiu, Zhongyi Jiang
Summary: In this study, a positively selective layer for Li+/Mg2+ separation was successfully constructed on the surface of a polyamide nanofiltration membrane through modification, leading to significantly increased membrane surface charge density and high performance in Li+/Mg2+ separation.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Mei An, Leonardo Gutierrez, Arnout D'Haese, Lianshuai Tan, Arne Verliefde, Emile Cornelissen
Summary: Thin film composite (TFC) polyamide (PA) nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are robust technologies for water treatment and desalination, but are often ineffective for removing neutral, smaller, and polar organic micropollutants (OMPs). In-situ modification of NF and RO membranes shows promise in improving OMPs rejection without changing production process. This review analyzes the impact of reported in-situ modification strategies on water permeability, OMPs retention, and NaCl rejection, while suggesting optimal modification strategies for different OMP groups.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Min Gyu Shin, Wansuk Choi, Sung-Joon Park, Sungkwon Jeon, Seungkwan Hong, Jung-Hyun Lee
Summary: Trace organic compounds (TOrCs) are a critical concern for water quality and safety, with advanced water treatment technologies like reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes showing promise in removing these compounds. The rejection mechanisms of TOrCs by RO/NF membranes remain unclear due to differences in membrane structures and limited research on TOrCs. This review focuses on characterizing rejection mechanisms and proposes future directions for improving TOrC separation performance of RO/NF membranes.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Asif Matin, Shehzada Muhammad Sajid Jillani, Umair Baig, I. Ihsanullah, Khalid Alhooshani
Summary: Trace organic compounds from effluent streams can contaminate groundwater sources as they are not completely removed by conventional purification techniques. In this study, we investigated the removal efficiency and rejection mechanisms of three common pharmaceutically active compounds using different surface characteristics of commercial nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes. The results showed that RO membranes exhibited near-complete removal of all compounds, while the retention capabilities of NF membranes varied depending on the characteristics of the compounds, membranes, and feed solution.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jie Liu, Zitong Zhao, Lin Li, Yongsheng Wu, Haokang He
Summary: MXene membranes with different interlayer d-spacings were investigated for organic solvent nanofiltration. The solvent fluxes were regulated by the arrangements of solvents in the membrane, with solvent property becoming the dominant factor when the d-spacing is larger than 1.45 nm. MXene membranes demonstrated higher solvent flux and 100% rejection of Nile red, revealing key governing factors for solvent permeation and solute rejection.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Carmen M. Sanchez-Arevalo, Tim Croes, Bart Van der Bruggen, Maria Cinta Vincent-Vela, Silvia Alvarez-Blanco
Summary: Organic-solvent nanofiltration (OSN) has been used to purify and fractionate phenolic compounds in wet olive pomace. Nine commercial OSN membranes were tested, and DuraMem (R) 500, NFX, and NF270 membranes showed satisfactory permeate flux values. Contact angle measurements and AFM analysis provided insight into the interaction between the ethanol/water solution and the membranes. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and/or refractive index detector confirmed low rejection of the target phenolic compounds (less than 10% for hydroxytyrosol) and high rejection of undesired compounds.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Shiyang Huang, Jaleh Mansouri, James A. McDonald, Stuart J. Khan, Greg Leslie, Chuyang Y. Tang, Anthony G. Fane
Summary: This work proposes a new approach based on the electrospray technique to print polyamide thin-film composite membranes in a single scan. The study found that a substrate with a 4-hour polydopamine coating and a cone-jet spray at 2.5 cm spray distance showed the highest NaCl rejection at 98.1%.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Huihui Zhao, Linyan Yang, Xueming Chen, Jinrui Wang, Lichun Bai, Guomin Cao, Lankun Cai, Chuyang Y. Tang
Summary: Polyamide (PA) membranes used in reverse osmosis and nanofiltration can be degraded by bromination under chlorinated bromide-containing water conditions. This study addresses the misconception that only hypobromous acid (HOBr) is responsible for membrane degradation, while other more reactive but less abundant brominating agents are often overlooked. The findings show that the rate of membrane degradation is strongly correlated with bromide, chloride, and hypochlorous acid concentrations.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hao Liu, Bo Li, Pin Zhao, Rongming Xu, Chuyang Y. Tang, Weilong Song, Zunaira Habib, Xinhua Wang
Summary: This study designed an interlayered thin-film composite forward osmosis membrane with an ultrathin and porous interlayer, which enhanced water permeability and reduced reverse sodium flux. The membrane maintained high stability and permeability under high salinity and contaminated environment.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Dong Wang, Na Zhang, Jiaojiao Zhang, Yuyao Qin, Sen Wang, Chuyang Y. Tang, Zhining Wang
Summary: This study presents a simple and versatile method to prepare novel polyamide nanofiltration membranes via a hydrogel-assisted interfacial polymerization process. The diffusion of piperazine was precisely controlled by adjusting the hydrogel composition and crosslinking degree, resulting in the formation of a thin film composite membrane with improved water permeance and Na2SO4 rejection due to the synergistic effect of decreased thickness and improved surface hydrophilicity.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ying Mei, Zhe Yang, Peng-Fei Sun, Shenghua Zhou, Hao Guo, Lu Elfa Peng, Zhikan Yao, Wulin Yang, Chuyang Y. Tang
Summary: We proposed a facile method of using polyelectrolyte additive to tune interfacial polymerization reaction and tailor polyamide NF membrane with better separation performance and lower bio-fouling potential for groundwater treatment. The fabricated TFC-P6 membrane possessed enhanced water permeance and better selectivity which can be beneficial to achieve higher water recovery compared to the control TFC membrane. In addition, the TFC-P6 membrane demonstrated enhanced rejection of perfluorooctane sulfonate and the biofouling was inhibited by its additional negative charge and smoother surface.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Junxia Liu, Wei Fu, Xuri Yu, Haiyan Yang, Dongsheng Zhao, Zhihong Wang, Lin Wang, Xianhui Li, Chuyang Y. Tang
Summary: In membrane technology for water/wastewater treatment, the concepts of critical flux (J(C)) and limiting flux (J(L)) play important roles in stable flux duration. This study clarifies the relationship of J(C) and J(L) to metastable and long-term stable fluxes based on factors such as initial flux, energy barriers, and membrane characteristics. The results provide significant guidelines for fouling control strategies in the field of membrane design and operation optimization.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lei Han, Liguo Shen, Hongjun Lin, Tinghai Cheng, Jianming Wen, Qianqian Zeng, Yanchao Xu, Renjie Li, Meijia Zhang, Huachang Hong, Chuyang Tang, Zhong Lin Wang
Summary: This study developed an eco-friendly acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) membrane using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology and modified it through an eco-friendly plasma strategy. The modified membrane exhibited excellent hydrophilicity and oleophobicity, achieving a water contact angle of 8.8 degrees and underwater oil contact angle of 137.6 degrees. The membrane showed an ultra-high flux of 1.17 x 10(5) L·m(-2)·h(-1) with 99.60% rejection for five typical oil/water systems, and maintained a rejection rate of 99.40% after 100 cycling tests over a four-month period, demonstrating superior stability and recyclability. This membrane outperformed all the state-of-the-art membranes for oil/water separation and introduced a new approach for membrane fabrication.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaobin Yang, Yajie Wen, Yangxue Li, Linlin Yan, Chuyang Y. Tang, Jun Ma, Seth B. Darling, Lu Shao
Summary: This study reports a prebiotic-chemistry-inspired method to universally engineer a superhydrophilic hierarchical MnO2 nanocoating on polymeric membranes, providing exceptional catalytic cleaning ability. The mineralized membrane achieved in-situ cleaning triggered by hydrogen peroxide catalyst, resulting in a flux recovery rate of 99.8%. The mineralized membrane exhibited a 9-fold higher recovery compared to the unmineralized membrane.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jingdong Rao, Xiaohui Mou, Yongyi Mo, Ho-Pan Bei, Li Wang, Chuyang Y. Tang, Kai-Hang Yiu, Zhilu Yang, Xin Zhao
Summary: Stenting is the primary treatment for vascular obstruction-related cardiovascular diseases, but it causes endothelial injury. The DA-Cu-Arg-Hep coating can effectively reconstruct the damaged endothelium and prevent thrombosis and restenosis.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qianqian Zeng, Die Ling Zhao, Liguo Shen, Hongjun Lin, Ning Kong, Lei Han, Cheng Chen, Jiaheng Teng, Chuyang Tang, Tai-Shung Chung
Summary: This study inserted titanium oxide nanotubes into the interlayer space of 2D MXene-based membranes to prepare PMT membranes with excellent performance. The PMT membrane has outstanding hydrophilicity, high retention rates, and ultra-high permeability. It also exhibits excellent antifouling and self-cleaning properties. The incorporation of TiONT increased the interaction energy between the membrane and pollutants, thereby improving its antifouling performance. This novel 2D membrane shows great promise for large-scale continuous separations of oil/water emulsions.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhiwen Li, Yanchao Xu, Liguo Shen, Renjie Li, Yang Jiao, Hongjun Lin, Chuyang Y. Tang
Summary: In this study, a nano-wrinkled polyamide membrane with ultrathin thickness was fabricated on a heterogeneous surface using a heterogeneous surface regulated interfacial polymerization approach. The presence of the heterogeneous surface induced the formation of aqueous phase microphases under the organic phase, which served as a template for the formation of the polyamide film. The polyamide membrane obtained exhibited excellent water permeance and sodium sulfate rejection.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yukun Qian, Haozheng Li, Jiancong Lu, Dan Lu, Hongyu Jin, Zhiyi Xia, Zhikan Yao, Jing Wang, Lin Zhang, Chuyang Y. Tang
Summary: By regulating the pore size and surface chemical composition of the substrate, the intrusion of polyamide can be effectively inhibited, leading to improved performance of thin film composite polyamide nanofiltration membranes.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lingyue Zhang, Chuyang Y. Tang, Chu Tang, Huijing Wang, Jianchao Wang, Ruiying Li, Haopeng Feng, Dongbei Yue
Summary: This study investigates the use of superhydrophobic nanoparticles for the removal of surfactant-like contaminants in wastewater. A quantitative surface characterization method based on low-field nuclear magnetic resonance is employed to accurately characterize the nanoparticles. The results demonstrate that the superhydrophobic nanoparticles exhibit efficient and selective adsorption capacity by enhancing hydrophobic interactions. The study provides insights into the interaction mechanisms and offers a potential solution for the efficient removal of surfactant-like contaminants in complex wastewater matrices.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chunyi Sun, Bin Lin, Xiangyong Zheng, Yingchao Dong, Min Zhao, Chuyang Y. Tang
Summary: In this work, a smooth ceramic-based graphene desalination membrane was developed with enhanced anti-fouling and anti-scaling ability for efficient treatment of hypersaline wastewater. The graphene membrane exhibited stable water flux and high salt rejection during constant operation, attributed to its lower attractive interaction force with foulant, lower surface roughness, and higher affinity with water compared to polypropylene membranes. The membrane also demonstrated promising oil and ions rejection for industrial petrochemical wastewater during long-term operation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Li Long, Lu Elfa Peng, Shenghua Zhou, Qimao Gan, Xianhui Li, Jingyi Jiang, Jiarui Han, Xiangru Zhang, Hao Guo, Chuyang Tang
Summary: The presence of disinfection by-products in drinking water poses a serious threat to water safety and public health. Nanofiltration is a promising technique for removing these by-products and producing clean water. We have developed highly selective nanofiltration membranes that can effectively reject disinfection by-products while allowing essential minerals to pass through. These membranes were fabricated using interfacial polymerization with the addition of NaHCO3, which led to improved membrane performance and higher selectivity for minerals over disinfection by-products.
