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Adsorptive chito-beads for control of membrane fouling
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Researchers fabricated chitosan microbeads (32–283 µm) as a plastic-free alternative to microplastic-based scrubbers for cleaning reverse osmosis membranes, finding that smaller beads achieved higher fouling removal efficiency through physicochemical attraction to humic acid foulants, offering a biodegradable approach to industrial membrane maintenance.
Chitosan has excellent antimicrobial, adsorption, heavy metal removal, and adhesion properties, making it a good substitute for microplastic-based cleaners. Here, chitosan microbeads (chito-beads) of various sizes ranging from 32 μm to 283 μm were prepared via emulsion using a liquid on oil method and the feasibility of using them as an essential constituent in a chemical cleaning solution for a reverse-osmosis (RO) membrane-fouling-control process was assessed. Prior to the assessment the cleaning efficiency of a solution containing chito-beads, the interaction energy between chitosan and a representative organic foulant (humic acid (HA)) in a RO membrane fouling was analyzed using colloidal atomic force microscopy, and the strongest attraction between chitosan and HA was observed in an aqueous solution. When comparing the membrane cleaning efficiency of cleaning solutions with and without chito-beads, smaller chito-beads (32 μm and 70 μm) were found to have higher cleaning efficiency. Applications of chito-beads to the membrane cleaning process can enhance the cleaning efficiency through the physicochemical interaction with organic foulants. This study can widen the use of chito-beads as an additive to membrane chemical cleaning solutions to control membrane fouling in other membrane processes as well.
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From Nature for Nature: Chitosan-based Materials for Clean Water by Flocculation – Mini Review
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This mini-review summarized how chitosan, a biodegradable polymer from crustacean chitin, can be chemically modified to flocculate and remove turbidity, heavy metals, dyes, and microplastics from water with low toxicity and high environmental compatibility. Chitosan-based flocculants offer a promising green alternative for microplastic removal in water treatment, potentially reducing plastic particle ingestion from drinking water without introducing synthetic chemical residues.
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Microplastic fibers are the most common type of microplastic found entering water treatment plants, yet their elongated shape makes them especially hard to remove with conventional filters. This study investigated using chitosan — a natural, biodegradable material derived from crustacean shells — as a "green" coagulant to clump fibers together so they can be more easily removed, and also developed chemically modified versions of chitosan that work across a wider range of water conditions. The results showed that combining chitosan-based coagulation with microbubble aeration creates a synergistic pretreatment system that significantly improves microplastic fiber removal while avoiding the residual metal ions left by conventional chemical coagulants.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.