Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jennifer C. Jackson, Camilla H. M. Camargos, Victor T. Noronha, Amauri J. Paula, Camila A. Rezende, Andreia F. Faria
Summary: This study successfully demonstrated the functionalization of TFC membranes with antimicrobial CNC nanoparticles derived from sustainably sourced cellulose nanocrystals. The functionalized membranes showed robust toxicity to bacteria and could potentially be a promising approach for mitigating biofouling, highlighting the application of sustainable materials in the design of next-generation water purification membranes.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
P. S. V. Vaishnavi, Soumitra Kar, A. K. Adak, Vandan Nagar, Vishal Singh, A. K. Debnath, Parag R. Nemade
Summary: This study focused on the modification of a thin film composite nanofiltration (TFC NF) membrane with amine to enhance its anti-biofouling properties. The surface of the membrane was grafted with graphene oxide (GO) using three different linkers. The GO-grafted membranes showed improved chlorine stability, reduced biofouling tendency, lower flux decline during seawater filtration, and enhanced hexavalent chromium rejection. The study also revealed that the improved chlorine stability was attributed to intermolecular hydrogen bonding between GO and the membrane structure, while the enhanced resistance to biofouling and lower flux decline were attributed to the hydrophilic nature of GO.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sung-Joon Park, Myung-Seok Lee, Heewoong Yoon, Jae Hong Kim, Sungkwon Jeon, Seung Su Shin, Minuk Yang, Jieun Choi, Jiwon Seo, Jung-Hyun Lee
Summary: A biofouling-resistant and high-performance polyamide thin-film composite membrane was successfully fabricated by adding a biomimetic antimicrobial peptoid during the interfacial polymerization process. The resulting membrane exhibited superior separation performance and long-term stability.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sung-Joon Park, Myung-Seok Lee, Wansuk Choi, Jung-Hyun Lee
Summary: A new facile strategy was presented for the fabrication of anti-biofouling polyamide thin film composite membranes by incorporating benzalkonium chloride (BAC) during interfacial polymerization. The BAC-incorporated TFC membrane exhibited significantly enhanced reverse osmosis separation and anti-biofouling performance. Strong incorporation of BAC into PA led to the long-term durability of the membrane in terms of its separation and anti-biofouling performance.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yu Jie Lim, Kunli Goh, Gwo Sung Lai, Yali Zhao, Jaume Torres, Rong Wang
Summary: The nanoscale characteristics of the polyamide layer play a crucial role in the desalination performance of thin-film composite reverse osmosis membranes. This study highlights the importance of understanding the polyamide characteristics and formation mechanisms for further advancements in TFC membrane performance. Differences in physicochemical properties of polyamide layers formed on different support membranes with similar surface pore properties were observed, suggesting that the support membrane chemistry influences the interfacial polymerization reaction and polyamide formation, ultimately affecting the nanoscale features of the polyamide layer.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Samira Jabbarvand Behrouz, Alireza Khataee, Mahdie Safarpour, Samira Arefi-Oskoui, Sang Woo Joo
Summary: In this study, CMC/PES thin-film composite nanofiltration membranes were fabricated using a dip-coating method with GA as the crosslinking agent. The optimized membrane with specific CMC concentration, crosslinking degree, and dipping time showed high rejection efficiency and improved fouling resistance compared to the PES support membrane. This membrane exhibited promising potential for water treatment applications.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Md Farhad Ismail, Muhammad Amirul Islam, Behnam Khorshidi, Ali Tehrani-Bagha, Mohtada Sadrzadeh
Summary: Thin-film composite membranes are widely used for low-cost and energy-efficient water desalination processes. This review discusses the importance of controlling surface parameters and evaluates the use of contact angle analysis for membrane surface characterization. Contact angle analysis provides useful information on surface properties that influence membrane permeation and fouling. Simplifying membrane evaluation through contact angle analysis can expedite the membrane development process.
ADVANCES IN COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lijuan Pang, Jochen Meier-Haack, Shaolong Huang, Lu Qi, Hongzhi Cui, Shuangchen Ruan, Yu-Jia Zeng
Summary: Membrane technology provides a reliable solution for fresh water production through sustainable desalination, but membrane biofouling can lead to system performance decline. Nanotechnology has expanded options for developing antibiofouling membranes by incorporating nanoparticles to create thin-film nanocomposite structures. This review discusses advancements in antifouling TFN membranes preparation, incorporation of different nanoparticles, strategies for reducing membrane fouling, and proposes future outlook for the field.
ADVANCED SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Man Zhao, Yang Yang, Hui Yu, Xiaotai Zhang, Xinxia Tian, Shancan Fu, Huifeng Zhang
Summary: This study focused on grafting polyacrylamide onto polyamide thin-film composite reverse osmosis membranes via in-situ atomic transfer radical polymerization to improve biofouling resistance. The grafted membranes demonstrated enhanced anti-adhesion and bacteriostatic performance, leading to improved biofouling resistance. The greater water wettability of membrane surface and flexible chain structure of PAAm were proposed as factors contributing to the enhanced anti-adhesion and bacteriostasis towards bacteria.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chansoo Park, Ji Lei, Jong -Oh Kim
Summary: Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane, a widely used desalination technology, faces the issue of biofouling. Curcumin, a natural compound, can reduce biofouling by inhibiting microbial growth. Dopamine is a molecule with excellent adhesion and can be used to coat the membrane surface with curcumin. The modified membranes showed improved permeability and reduced gram-positive bacteria.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yaowen Hu, Fei Wang, Zhe Yang, Chuyang Y. Tang
Summary: Nanovoids in polyamide layers significantly influence the roughness structures and water permeance of thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes. This study investigates water transport behaviors in a polyamide layer with or without nanovoids through numerical simulations and also develops an analytical model to quantify the competition between substrate-induced unfavorable funnel effect and nanovoid-induced favorable multi-effects. The modeling results demonstrate that even tiny nanovoids can minimize water transport distance and enhance the membrane permeance by 1-2 orders of magnitude.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Pooria Karami, Sadegh Aghapour Aktij, Behnam Khorshidi, Mostafa Dadashi Firouzjaei, Asad Asad, Mark Elliott, Ahmad Rahimpour, Joao B. P. Soares, Mohtada Sadrzadeh
Summary: This study reported an effective method to reduce fouling of polyamide thin film composite membranes by grafting amine-functionalized nanodiamond particles. The modified membranes exhibited significantly reduced fouling and increased antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli cells. These membranes have potential applications in water reclamation due to their simple fabrication, antifouling, and antibacterial properties.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuanyuan Luo, Liqiong Niu, Pengyan Hao, Xiaoya Sun, Yongxi Zhao, Na Wu
Summary: This study presents a controllable tannic acid (TA) nanopatterning strategy based on DNA origami templates. The protruding clustered ssDNA on the DNA origami tiles serves as an index for the selective deposition of TA, allowing for controllable erasing and rewriting of TA nanopatterns. Furthermore, the TA polymers modified on the edges of the origami tiles enable reversible association/disassociation of origami multimers.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yuehua Zhang, Peng Xu, Xianfu Chen, Minghui Qiu, Yiqun Fan
Summary: In this study, a defect-free polyamide (PA) layer was directly prepared on a tubular alumina ceramic membrane to overcome the selectivity loss issue of thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membranes in harsh conditions. The resulting organic-inorganic composite membrane exhibited high water permeance and good rejection to Na2SO4, as well as excellent compaction resistance and performance stability.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Huihui Gao, Yujie Xue, Yufeng Zhang, Yongjun Zhang, Jianqiang Meng
Summary: A green surface in-situ reduction method based on tannic acid-inspired chemistry was used to introduce silver nanoparticles into the intermediate layer of a thin film nanocomposite membrane, effectively improving its anti-biofouling performance. By optimizing the preparation process, a TFN membrane with high water flux and salt retention rate was achieved.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Steven T. Weinman, Maria Bass, Soumya Pandit, Moshe Herzberg, Viatcheslav Freger, Scott M. Husson
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2018)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Steven T. Weinman, Eric M. Fierce, Scott M. Husson
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2019)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Shahriar Habib, Steven T. Weinman
Summary: This review focuses on the lab-scale synthesis of fully aromatic polyamide layers used in creating RO membranes, discussing various synthesis protocols and parameters, as well as the mechanisms and kinetics behind the synthesis process. The effects of different reaction conditions and processing techniques on membrane performance are analyzed, with the goal of helping researchers synthesize and improve RO membranes more effectively.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Praveenkumar Sappidi, Gabriel Barbosa, Brooks D. Rabideau, Steven T. Weinman, C. Heath Turner
Summary: All-atom molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to investigate the behavior of water in a biphasic system containing a brine solution and two different amine-based solvents. The results showed that the biphasic system led to salt aggregation and crystallization, with stronger hydrogen bond interactions between DiPA and water. Thermodynamic integration indicated a stronger interaction of water with the DiPA solvent, mainly through interactions of oxygen atoms in water with nitrogen atoms in the solvent molecules. This study provides a better molecular-level understanding of solvent-based desalination of high-salinity brines.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Gabriel D. Barbosa, Jason E. Bara, Steven T. Weinman, C. Heath Turner
Summary: Solvent extraction desalination has proven to be a promising energy-efficient technique compared to traditional separation processes. Molecular simulations show that water solubilization in imidazole-based solvents is an endothermic process, while it is exothermic for a secondary amine solvent. Imidazole-based solvents can be tailored to provide favorable characteristics for brine desalination.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Gabriel D. Barbosa, Xiaoyang Liu, Jason E. Bara, Steven T. Weinman, C. Heath Turner
Summary: Solvent extraction desalination (SED) is a promising technique for treating high salinity brines, and the molecular characteristics of organic solvents play a significant role in the process. The water solubilization in secondary amines is found to be exothermic, even though hydrogen bonding interaction is not the dominant factor for water solubility performance. The excess volume of mixing in bulk solvent-water mixture and the electrostatic surface features of solvents are also important clues for screening solvent behavior.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lauren M. Ward, Barbara G. Fickling, Steven T. Weinman
Summary: A line-and-groove nanopattern applied to a nanofiltration membrane did not reduce concentration polarization as expected but instead increased it. Further studies on different pattern shapes and sizes are needed to understand the influence of pattern size and shape on concentration polarization.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Shahriar Habib, Steven T. Weinman
Summary: This study investigates the improvement of urea rejection in reverse osmosis (RO) membranes through modification approaches. By applying m-phenylenediamine (MPD) and heat treatment, the modified membranes show significant enhancement in urea rejection but with reduced water permeance. The results suggest that the combination of MPD application and heat treatment can effectively enhance urea rejection in RO membranes.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuai Qian, Lauren M. Ward, Luke S. Rakers, Steven T. Weinman, Jason E. Bara
Summary: Temperature swing solvent extraction (TSSE) is a method that uses a temperature-dependent amine solvent to concentrate or crystallize brine, with the phases separated through phase separation between water and solvent. The current TSSE solvents have issues with high solubility and volatility. This study used imidazole molecules to create new isomers that showed potential for TSSE, but further research is needed.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Shomit Mansur, Shahriar Habib, Mikayla Hawkins, Spenser R. Brown, Steven T. Weinman, Yuping Bao
Summary: This study reports the production of quercetin-iron complex nanoparticle-loaded extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from a breast cancer cell line using direct flow filtration. The EVs were characterized by morphological and size analysis, as well as protein marker identification. The yield of EVs was significantly increased using direct flow filtration compared to ultracentrifugation. Cellular uptake studies demonstrated that the nanoparticle-loaded EVs showed uniform staining across cells, suggesting deeper penetration and delivery of the nanocarriers to regional cells.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shahriar Habib, Madison A. Wilkins, Steven T. Weinman
Summary: This study aims to improve the molecular exclusion properties of reverse osmosis membranes by modifying the polyamide layer. By conjugating amines to the polyamide layer and subsequently heat treating it, the rejection of small neutral molecules is significantly improved.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shahriar Habib, Madison A. Wilkins, Steven T. Weinman
Summary: The goal of this research is to improve the pore structure of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes to enhance their rejection of small neutral molecules (SNMs) by conjugating diamines or polyamines to the polyamide layer. The study found that the modification significantly increased the rejection of urea and boron, suggesting its potential for improving SNM removal.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lauren M. Ward, Rushabh M. Shah, Jessica D. Schiffman, Steven T. Weinman
Summary: This contribution discusses a method to reduce bacteria fouling on ultrafiltration membranes by applying nano-scale line-and-groove patterns on the membrane surface. The study demonstrates that the patterned membranes have a lower attachment of microbes and a higher flux recovery ratio compared to the non-patterned membranes.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Saeideh Alipoori, Hadi Rouhi, Emily Linn, Hannah Stumpfl, Hadi Mokarizadeh, Milad Rabbani Esfahani, Amanda Koh, Steven T. Weinman, Evan K. Wujcik
Summary: Adsorption is an important and versatile technique for water purification, with polymer-based materials commonly used as adsorbents to remove toxic elements from polluted waters. The evaluation of adsorbent performance is based on factors such as adsorption capacity, adsorption rate, contaminant selectivity, and adsorbent reusability, which are affected by pH, temperature, contact time, and the type, dosage, and morphology of the adsorbent.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jaime A. Idarraga-Mora, Michael A. Lemelin, Steven T. Weinman, Scott M. Husson
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jiawei Hou, Shixuan Guo, Nigel Graham, Wenzheng Yu, Kening Sun, Ting Liu
Summary: A novel 2D composite membrane based on r-HGO and MXene materials was developed, demonstrating exceptional performance for water treatment in terms of permeability, pollutant rejection, and physical stability. The optimization of preparation conditions and material proportions can result in high water flux and efficient removal of pollutants.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Retraction
Engineering, Chemical
Chang Liu, Jinghong Liu, Liang Zhu, Shanfu Tang, Huixin Xiong
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Rui Gao, Caihong Liu, Andreia F. Faria, Qiang He, Chun Yang, Jun Ma
Summary: A novel copolymer architecture has been developed to address biofouling concerns in thin-film composite (TFC) membranes by integrating anti-fouling, bactericidal, and fouling-release functions. The multifunctional membrane demonstrates promising anti-adhesive properties, self-cleaning ability, and high flux recovery rate.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Alexander T. Bridge, Noah P. Wamble, Matthew S. Santoso, Joan F. Brennecke, Benny D. Freeman
Summary: This study demonstrates the reproducible preparation of high-flux defect-free asymmetric gas separation membranes using Cyrene(TM) as a majority dope formulation component. By adjusting the volume ratios of Cyrene(TM) and THF, as well as the concentrations of Matrimid(R) and the dry step time, optimal membrane performance is achieved.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Alessandra Imbrogno, Han Ya Lin, Babak Minofar, Andrea Iris Schaefer
Summary: In this study, a composite nanofiber membrane containing cross-linked beta-cyclodextrin-epichlorohydrin was prepared and evaluated for the removal of steroid hormones. The results showed that the membrane had high adsorption capacity and the ability to form a specific inclusion complex interaction with the hormones, indicating its potential application in hormone removal.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Bora Shin, Jaewon Shin, Yanuar Chandra Wirasembada, Ki Young Park, Jinwoo Cho
Summary: This study develops a mathematical model to estimate the initial flux of volatile fatty acids in the direct contact membrane distillation process. It identifies the parameters affecting the flux and their relationship with pH.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yi-Jui Yeh, Jr Rong Liou, Wei Lin, Kuo-Lun Tung, Wei-Hung Chiang
Summary: This study demonstrates an effective plasma engineering method to create nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dot (NGQD)-inorganic nanocomposites for tunable molecular separation. The composite materials show high separation efficiency and controllable nanopore structures, making them potentially valuable for various applications.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Horacio Lopez-Marques, Kristofer L. Gleason, Manuel Aguilar-Vega, Rita Sulub-Sulub, J. Ehren Eichler, Hyeonji Oh, C. Buddie Mullins, Benny D. Freeman, Manish Kumar
Summary: In this study, water transport properties in Carbon Molecular Sieve (CMS) membranes were investigated. It was found that membranes synthesized at different pyrolysis temperatures exhibited varying water permeabilities. Compared to other polymeric materials, CMS membranes showed high water permeability, indicating potential for dehydration applications.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Dmitry A. Alentiev, Roman Yu. Nikiforov, Marina A. Rudakova, Danil P. Zarezin, Maxim A. Topchiy, Andrey F. Asachenko, Nikolay A. Belov, Maxim Bermeshev
Summary: A series of new norbornene-type monomers containing linear and branched substituents were synthesized, and robust thin membranes were prepared by vinyl-addition polymerization. Gas separation performance for the synthesized polymers was evaluated, and the structure of substituent side chains was found to significantly affect gas permeability and CO2 facilitated transport.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Lei Yan, Qi Zhang, Ze Zhang, Gui-Jie Li, Yi Jin, Xin-Lin Zhang, Yan-Yun Sun
Summary: In this study, a continuous, stable and fast ion transport channel was established through in-situ guided cross-linking of zinc alginate hydrogels on a porous membrane, overcoming the negative pore effect and effectively inhibiting the dendrite growth of zinc anodes and interfacial side reactions.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yuqing Zhang, Ailing Zhang, Huiyang He, Yuting Fan, Yongjiang Li, Song Wang, Sanxi Li
Summary: The Langmuir-Blodgett self-assembly process is used to create an ordered SPEEK membrane, which enhances the proton conductivity by three times compared to conventional solution casting method.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hasan Ismaeel, David Gibson, Eleonora Ricci, Maria Grazia De Angelis
Summary: In this study, a machine learning-based group contribution method (ML-GC) was developed to predict pure polymer parameters and successfully applied to predict gas solubility and gas solubility isotherms in glassy polymeric membranes. The model showed satisfactory performance on a small dataset, but has the potential to provide more accurate predictions for a wider range of polymers as more data becomes available.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yi Ji, Yu Sun, Huilin Li, Qiang Fu, Yan Zhang
Summary: Previous studies have shown that vibration- or rotation-based techniques can effectively mitigate fouling during membrane filtration. However, it is difficult to incorporate these techniques with spiral wound modules (SWMs) widely used in water and wastewater treatment. This study developed a prototype membrane system to accommodate angular vibrations with a modified SWM, and experimental results showed that applying angular vibrations can effectively control algal fouling in an SWM with lower energy consumption compared to traditional methods.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Lakshmeesha Upadhayaya, Abaynesh Yihdego Gebreyohannes, Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, Usman T. Syed, Sandra L. Aristizabal, Radoslaw Gorecki, Suzana P. Nunes
Summary: Increasing temperatures worldwide pose a significant health risk, exacerbated by high humidity. Conventional air conditioners contribute heavily to carbon dioxide emissions, with dehumidification being a major factor. Membrane-based dehumidification system offers energy efficiency and non-toxic water vapor removal. This study demonstrates a membrane dehumidification system with polymeric hollow fibers coated with a green polyphenol coating, showing remarkable water vapor transport rate and selectivity. Long-term testing reveals minimal decline in vapor transport and a 4-5 times higher coefficient of performance (COP) compared to conventional dehumidifiers, making it a highly competitive, energy-saving device with reduced emissions and a smaller footprint.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhengzhong Zhou, Xue Zhu, Yi Yuan, Shaoqiang Wang, Xiaoshan Meng, Taoli Huhe, Qian Wang
Summary: In this study, lignin, a biomass material, was chemically modified and utilized in the interfacial polymerization process to improve the performance of nanofiltration membranes. The modified membranes showed enhanced hydrophilicity and anti-fouling properties, and the optimization of membrane pore size increased permeability. The study also demonstrated the potential application of the membranes in biogas slurry valorization.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)