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Revolutionary Nanofiltration Membrane Developed for Saline Wastewater Solutions
A prominent research group led by Professor Wan Yinhua at the Institute of Process Engineering, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has created a groundbreaking nanofiltration (NF) membrane characterized by a horizontal charge distribution. This advanced technology aims to significantly enhance wastewater treatment processes.
Exceptional Performance in Salt and Organic Compound Filtration
This state-of-the-art membrane showcases impressive capabilities in salt permeation along with effective retention of organic matter and resistance to fouling. These features render it especially suitable for managing high-salinity organic wastewaters.
The research findings were shared in the influential journal Environmental Science & Technology on January 7.
The Importance of Effective Contaminant Removal
Removing organic pollutants from saline wastewater is crucial for resource recovery and achieving environmentally sustainable practices, including zero discharge protocols. While NF membranes are adept at isolating organic materials alongside monovalent salts, they frequently exhibit excessive rejection rates for divalent salts.
Altering the electrical properties of these membranes can enhance salt infiltration; however, understanding how spatial charge distribution influences salt transport remains an area needing clarity.
An Innovative Approach to Charge Distribution
To resolve this issue, researchers engineered a mix-charged NF membrane employing novel methods such as interfacial polymerization combined with polyester template etching and polyamine intercalation driven by solvents.
This inventive charge configuration delivers elevated charge density alongside a surface that approaches electroneutrality—facilitating enhanced permeation rates for divalent salts. Furthermore, size-modulated “plug-in” modifications paired with covalent crosslinking techniques effectively reduce pore dimensions—boosting the rejection rate against smaller organic molecules.
Outstanding Resistance to Fouling Agents
The new membrane also demonstrates excellent antifouling characteristics when exposed to both positively and negatively charged contaminants due to its unique surface structure and consistent smoothness.
“Our innovation achieves an impressive 58.6% salt permeability coupled with 68.7% chemical oxygen demand (COD) rejection while processing high-salinity organic wastewater—placing it among top-performing NF membranes documented in recent studies,” stated Prof. Luo Jianquan, who served as the study’s corresponding author.
A Milestone Towards Sustainable Wastewater Management
This significant advancement presents new avenues for effectively tackling high-salinity wastewater issues—a critical step towards enhancing resource recovery efforts while promoting sustainability within water management practices worldwide.
