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Biodegradable electrospinning superhydrophilic nanofiber membranes for ultrafast oil-water separation
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Researchers developed biodegradable PLA/PEO nanofiber membranes achieving >99.6% oil-water separation efficiency, 61.9x higher permeance than conventional membranes, while the hydrogel coating also accelerated PLA biodegradation by 30%.
Although membrane technology has attracted considerable attention for oily wastewater treatment, the plastic waste generated from discarded membranes presents an immediate challenge for achieving eco-friendly separation. We designed on-demand biodegradable superhydrophilic membranes composed of polylactic acid nanofibers in conjunction with polyethylene oxide hydrogels using electrospinning technology for ultrafast purification of oily water. Our results showed that the use of the polyethylene oxide hydrogels increased the number of hydrogen bonds formed between the membrane surface and water molecules by 357.6%. This converted hydrophobic membranes into superhydrophilic ones, which prevented membrane fouling and accelerated emulsion penetration through the membranes. The oil-in-water emulsion permeance of our newly designed nanofiber membranes increased by 61.9 times (2.1 × 104 liters per square meter per hour per bar) with separation efficiency >99.6%, which was superior to state-of-the-art membranes. Moreover, the formation of hydrogen bonds was found to accelerate polylactic acid biodegradation into lactic acid by over 30%, offering a promising approach for waste membrane treatment.
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Superhydrophilic adsorptive nanofiber membranes for ultrafast and highly-efficient waterborne nanoplastic removal
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Researchers engineered a superhydrophilic nanofiber membrane by cross-linking polyethylene oxide into a polylactic acid polymer network, achieving greater than 99.99% separation efficiency for nanoplastics larger than 150 nm through combined hydrophobic and pi-pi molecular interactions, with water permeance 53 times higher than conventional membranes under gravity-driven flow.
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Researchers fabricated a superhydrophilic membrane using caffeic acid and epsilon-polylysine that simultaneously removes oil droplets and microplastic particles from contaminated water, achieving 99.89% oil rejection and 96.99% removal of 100-nm polystyrene microplastics over five hours of continuous filtration with strong antifouling performance.
Biodegradable CA-based nanofiber membranes with ZnO/SnO2 heterojunctions for efficient emulsion separation and photocatalytic self-cleaning
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Researchers created a biodegradable fiber membrane, made from treated cellulose and metal oxide coatings, that separates oil from water with high efficiency and can self-clean under UV light. In lab tests, the membrane broke down into small fragments when exposed to an enzyme solution, suggesting it would not leave behind long-lasting microplastic waste after disposal.
Constructing green superhydrophilic and superoleophobic COFs-MOFs hybrid-based membrane for efficiently emulsion separation and synchronous removal of microplastics, dyes, and pesticides
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Researchers built a new type of environmentally friendly membrane that can simultaneously filter out microplastics, dyes, and pesticides from oily wastewater with over 99% efficiency. The membrane uses a combination of two advanced porous materials (MOFs and COFs) with a surface coating that repels oil but lets water through. This technology could improve water treatment and reduce the amount of microplastics and other pollutants that reach drinking water sources.
The Quest Towards Superhydrophobic Cellulose and Bacterial Cellulose Membranes and Their Perspective Applications
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This review examines advances in developing superhydrophobic cellulose and bacterial cellulose membranes, biopolymers that offer an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic polymers which generate microplastics and toxic substances. The review covers functionalization strategies that modify physical, chemical, and biological properties of these high-surface-area materials and surveys their emerging applications in filtration, oil-water separation, and environmental remediation.
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