Membranes

47 pages, 10022 KiB

Open AccessReview

Research on Membranes and Their Associated Processes at the Université Paris-Est Créteil: Progress Report, Perspectives, and National and International Collaborations

by Lassaad Baklouti, Christian Larchet, Abdelwaheb Hamdi, Naceur Hamdi, Leila Baraket and Lasâad Dammak

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020252 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2703

Abstract

Research on membranes and their associated processes was initiated in 1970 at the University of Paris XII/IUT de Créteil, which became in 2010 the University Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC). This research initially focused on the development and applications of pervaporation membranes, then concerned the [...] Read more.

Research on membranes and their associated processes was initiated in 1970 at the University of Paris XII/IUT de Créteil, which became in 2010 the University Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC). This research initially focused on the development and applications of pervaporation membranes, then concerned the metrology of ion-exchange membranes, then expanded to dialysis processes using these membranes, and recently opened to composite membranes and their applications in production or purification processes. Both experimental and fundamental aspects have been developed in parallel. This evolution has been reinforced by an opening to the French and European industries, and to the international scene, especially to the Krasnodar Membrane Institute (Kuban State University—Russia) and to the Department of Chemistry, (Qassim University—Saudi Arabia). Here, we first presented the history of this research activity, then developed the main research axes carried out at UPEC over the 2012–2022 period; then, we gave the main results obtained, and finally, showed the cross contribution of the developed collaborations. We avoided a chronological presentation of these activities and grouped them by theme: composite membranes and ion-exchange membranes. For composite membranes, we have detailed three applications: highly selective lithium-ion extraction, bleach production, and water and industrial effluent treatments. For ion-exchange membranes, we focused on their characterization methods, their use in Neutralization Dialysis for brackish water demineralization, and their fouling and antifouling processes. It appears that the research activities on membranes within UPEC are very dynamic and fruitful, and benefit from scientific exchanges with our Russian partners, which contributed to the development of strong membrane activity on water treatment within Qassim University. Finally, four main perspectives of this research activity were given: the design of autonomous and energy self-sufficient processes, refinement of characterization by Electrochemical Scanning Microscopy, functional membrane separators, and green membrane preparation and use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Polymeric, Composite and Biological Membranes at UPEC: State-of-the-Art and Perspectives)

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19 pages, 3425 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antimicrobial Peptide Mastoparan-AF Kills Multi-Antibiotic Resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 via Multiple Membrane Disruption Patterns and Likely by Adopting 3–11 Amphipathic Helices to Favor Membrane Interaction

by Chun-Hsien Lin, Ching-Lin Shyu, Zong-Yen Wu, Chao-Min Wang, Shiow-Her Chiou, Jiann-Yeu Chen, Shu-Ying Tseng, Ting-Er Lin, Yi-Po Yuan, Shu-Peng Ho, Kwong-Chung Tung, Frank Chiahung Mao, Han-Jung Lee and Wu-Chun Tu

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020251 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1981

Abstract

We investigated the antimicrobial activity and membrane disruption modes of the antimicrobial peptide mastoparan-AF against hemolytic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Based on the physicochemical properties, mastoparan-AF may potentially adopt a 3–11 amphipathic helix-type structure, with five to seven nonpolar or hydrophobic amino acid residues [...] Read more.

We investigated the antimicrobial activity and membrane disruption modes of the antimicrobial peptide mastoparan-AF against hemolytic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Based on the physicochemical properties, mastoparan-AF may potentially adopt a 3–11 amphipathic helix-type structure, with five to seven nonpolar or hydrophobic amino acid residues forming the hydrophobic face. E. coli O157:H7 and two diarrheagenic E. coli veterinary clinical isolates, which are highly resistant to multiple antibiotics, are sensitive to mastoparan-AF, with minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) ranging from 16 to 32 μg mL⁻¹ for E. coli O157:H7 and four to eight μg mL⁻¹ for the latter two isolates. Mastoparan-AF treatment, which correlates proportionally with membrane permeabilization of the bacteria, may lead to abnormal dents, large perforations or full opening at apical ends (hollow tubes), vesicle budding, and membrane corrugation and invagination forming irregular pits or pores on E. coli O157:H7 surface. In addition, mRNAs of prepromastoparan-AF and prepromastoparan-B share a 5′-poly(A) leader sequence at the 5′-UTR known for the advantage in cap-independent translation. This is the first report about the 3–11 amphipathic helix structure of mastoparans to facilitate membrane interaction. Mastoparan-AF could potentially be employed to combat multiple antibiotic-resistant hemolytic E. coli O157:H7 and other pathogenic E. coli. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane-Interacting Diagnostic/Therapeutic Peptides in Infectious Diseases and Oncology)

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16 pages, 2026 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cholesterol Regulation of Membrane Proteins Revealed by Two-Color Super-Resolution Imaging

by Zixuan Yuan and Scott B. Hansen

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020250 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3694

Abstract

Cholesterol and phosphatidyl inositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂) are hydrophobic molecules that regulate protein function in the plasma membrane of all cells. In this review, we discuss how changes in cholesterol concentration cause nanoscopic (<200 nm) movements of membrane proteins to regulate their [...] Read more.

Cholesterol and phosphatidyl inositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂) are hydrophobic molecules that regulate protein function in the plasma membrane of all cells. In this review, we discuss how changes in cholesterol concentration cause nanoscopic (<200 nm) movements of membrane proteins to regulate their function. Cholesterol is known to cluster many membrane proteins (often palmitoylated proteins) with long-chain saturated lipids. Although PIP₂ is better known for gating ion channels, in this review, we will discuss a second independent function as a regulator of nanoscopic protein movement that opposes cholesterol clustering. The understanding of the movement of proteins between nanoscopic lipid domains emerged largely through the recent advent of super-resolution imaging and the establishment of two-color techniques to label lipids separate from proteins. We discuss the labeling techniques for imaging, their strengths and weakness, and how they are used to reveal novel mechanisms for an ion channel, transporter, and enzyme function. Among the mechanisms, we describe substrate and ligand presentation and their ability to activate enzymes, gate channels, and transporters rapidly and potently. Finally, we define cholesterol-regulated proteins (CRP) and discuss the role of PIP₂ in opposing the regulation of cholesterol, as seen through super-resolution imaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation and Interactions of Lipid Membranes)

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19 pages, 4614 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation on the Performance of CO₂ Absorption in Ceramic Hollow-Fiber Gas/Liquid Membrane Contactors

by Chii-Dong Ho, Hsuan Chang, Yu-Han Chen, Thiam Leng Chew and Jui-Wei Ke

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020249 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1918

Abstract

The absorption efficiencies of CO₂ in ceramic hollow-fiber membrane contactors using monoethanolamine (MEA) absorbent under both cocurrent- and countercurrent-flow operations were investigated theoretically and experimentally; various MEA absorbent flow rates, CO₂ feed flow rates, and inlet CO₂ concentrations were used [...] Read more.

The absorption efficiencies of CO₂ in ceramic hollow-fiber membrane contactors using monoethanolamine (MEA) absorbent under both cocurrent- and countercurrent-flow operations were investigated theoretically and experimentally; various MEA absorbent flow rates, CO₂ feed flow rates, and inlet CO₂ concentrations were used as parameters. Theoretical predictions of the CO₂ absorption flux were analyzed by developing the mathematical formulations based on Happel’s free surface model in terms of mass transfer resistances in series. The experiments of the CO₂ absorption were conducted by using alumina (Al₂O₃) hollow-fiber membranes to confirm the accuracy of the theoretical predictions. The simplified expression of the Sherwood number was formulated to calculate the mass transfer coefficient of the CO₂ absorption incorporating experimental data. The data were obtained numerically using the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method to predict the concentration distribution and absorption rate enhancement under various fiber packing configurations accomplished by the CO₂/N₂ stream passing through the fiber cells. The operations of the hollow-fiber membrane contactor encapsulating N = 7 fiber cells and N = 19 fiber cells of different packing densities were fabricated in this work to examine the device performance. The accuracy derivation between experimental results and theoretical predictions for cocurrent- and countercurrent-flow operations were

1.31 \times 10^{- 2} \leq E \leq 4.35 \times 10^{- 2}

and

3.90 \times 10^{- 3} \leq E \leq 2.43 \times 10^{- 2}

, respectively. A maximum of 965.5% CO₂ absorption rate enhancement was found in the module with embedding multiple fiber cells compared with that in the device with inserting single-fiber cell. Implementing more fiber cells offers an inexpensive method of improving the absorption efficiency, and thus the operations of the ceramic hollow-fiber membrane contactor with implementing more fiber cells propose a low-priced design to improve the absorption rate enhancement. The higher overall CO₂ absorption rate was achieved in countercurrent-flow operations than that in cocurrent-flow operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Achievements and Study Progress of Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) Membrane)

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13 pages, 1798 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance of Hypersaline Brine Desalination Using Spiral Wound Membrane: A Parametric Study

by Kathleen Foo, Yong Yeow Liang, Woei Jye Lau, Md Maksudur Rahman Khan and Abdul Latif Ahmad

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020248 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1966

Abstract

Desalination of hypersaline brine is known as one of the methods to cope with the rising global concern on brine disposal in high-salinity water treatment. However, the main problem of hypersaline brine desalination is the high energy usage resulting from the high operating [...] Read more.

Desalination of hypersaline brine is known as one of the methods to cope with the rising global concern on brine disposal in high-salinity water treatment. However, the main problem of hypersaline brine desalination is the high energy usage resulting from the high operating pressure. In this work, we carried out a parametric analysis on a spiral wound membrane (SWM) module to predict the performance of hypersaline brine desalination, in terms of mass transfer and specific energy consumption (SEC). Our analysis shows that at a low inlet pressure of 65 bar, a significantly higher SEC is observed for high feed concentration of brine water compared with seawater (i.e., 0.08 vs. 0.035) due to the very low process recovery ratio (i.e., 1%). Hence, an inlet pressure of at least 75 bar is recommended to minimise energy consumption. A higher feed velocity is also preferred due to its larger productivity when compared with a slightly higher energy requirement. This study found that the SEC reduction is greatly affected by the pressure recovery and the pump efficiencies for brine desalination using SWM, and employing them with high efficiencies (η_R ≥ 95% and η_pump ≥ 50%) can reduce SEC by at least 33% while showing a comparable SEC with SWRO desalination (<5.5 kWh/m³). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Materials and Processes for Liquid and Gas Separation)

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21 pages, 3882 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Formation of β-Strand Nine (β₉) in the Folding and Insertion of BamA from an Unfolded Form into Lipid Bilayers

by Sascha Herwig and Jörg H. Kleinschmidt

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020247 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1904

Abstract

Transmembrane proteins span lipid bilayer membranes and serve essential functions in all living cells. Membrane-inserted domains are of either α-helical or β-barrel structure. Despite their biological importance, the biophysical mechanisms of the folding and insertion of proteins into membranes are not well [...] Read more.

Transmembrane proteins span lipid bilayer membranes and serve essential functions in all living cells. Membrane-inserted domains are of either α-helical or β-barrel structure. Despite their biological importance, the biophysical mechanisms of the folding and insertion of proteins into membranes are not well understood. While the relative composition of the secondary structure has been examined by circular dichroism spectroscopy in folding studies for several outer membrane proteins, it is currently not known how individual β-strands fold. Here, the folding and insertion of the β-barrel assembly machinery protein A (BamA) from the outer membrane of Escherichia coli into lipid bilayers were investigated, and the formation of strand nine (β₉) of BamA was examined. Eight single-cysteine mutants of BamA were overexpressed and isolated in unfolded form in 8 M urea. In each of these mutants, one of the residues of strand β₉, from R572 to V579, was replaced by a cysteine and labeled with the fluorophore IAEDANS for site-directed fluorescence spectroscopy. Upon urea-dilution, the mutants folded into the native structure and were inserted into lipid bilayers of dilauroylphosphatidylcholine, similar to wild-type BamA. An aqueous and a membrane-adsorbed folding intermediate of BamA could be identified by strong shifts in the intensity maxima of the IAEDANS fluorescence of the labeled mutants of BamA towards shorter wavelengths, even in the absence of lipid bilayers. The shifts were greatest for membrane-adsorbed mutants and smaller for the inserted, folded mutants or the aqueous intermediates. The spectra of the mutants V573C-, L575C-, G577C-, and V579C-BamA, facing the lipid bilayer, displayed stronger shifts than the spectra recorded for the mutants R572C-, N574C-, T576C-, and K578C-BamA, facing the β-barrel lumen, in both the membrane-adsorbed form and the folded, inserted form. This alternating pattern was neither observed for the IAEDANS spectra of the unfolded forms nor for the water-collapsed forms, indicating that strand β₉ forms in a membrane-adsorbed folding intermediate of BamA. The combination of cysteine scanning mutagenesis and site-directed fluorescence labeling is shown to be a valuable tool in examining the local secondary structure formation of transmembrane proteins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biochemical and Biophysical Approaches to Elucidate the Functional Mechanisms of Membrane Proteins)

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12 pages, 2701 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Validation of an Experimental Setup for Evaluation of Gas Permeation in Ceramic Membranes

by Sabrina G. M. Carvalho, Eliana N. S. Muccillo and Reginaldo Muccillo

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020246 - 18 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2033

Abstract

An experimental setup for the evaluation of permeation of gaseous species with the possibility of simultaneously collecting electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data in disk-shaped ceramic membranes was designed and assembled. It consists of an alumina sample holder with thermocouple tips and platinum electrodes located [...] Read more.

An experimental setup for the evaluation of permeation of gaseous species with the possibility of simultaneously collecting electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data in disk-shaped ceramic membranes was designed and assembled. It consists of an alumina sample holder with thermocouple tips and platinum electrodes located close to both sides of the sample. Water-cooled inlet and outlet gas connections allowed for the insertion of the sample chamber into a programmable split tubular furnace. Gas permeation through a ceramic membrane can be monitored with mass flow controllers, a mass spectrometer, and an electrochemical impedance analyzer. For testing and data validation, ceramic composite membranes were prepared with the infiltration of molten eutectic compositions of alkali salts (lithium, sodium, and potassium carbonates) into porous gadolinia-doped ceria. Values of the alkali salt melting points and the permeation rates of carbon dioxide, in agreement with reported data, were successfully collected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Application of Ceramic Membranes)

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15 pages, 3179 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Incorporation of Functionalized Halloysite Nanotubes (HNTs) into Thin-Film Nanocomposite (TFN) Nanofiltration Membranes for Water Softening

by Amirsajad Atashgar, Daryoush Emadzadeh, Somaye Akbari and Boguslaw Kruczek

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020245 - 18 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2233

Abstract

Incorporating nanoparticles (NPs) into the selective layer of thin-film composite (TFC) membranes is a common approach to improve the performance of the resulting thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes. The main challenge in this approach is the leaching out of NPs during membrane operation. Halloysite [...] Read more.

Incorporating nanoparticles (NPs) into the selective layer of thin-film composite (TFC) membranes is a common approach to improve the performance of the resulting thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes. The main challenge in this approach is the leaching out of NPs during membrane operation. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) modified with the first generation of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers (G1) have shown excellent stability in the PA layer of TFN reverse-osmosis (RO) membranes. This study explores, for the first time, using these NPs to improve the properties of TFN nanofiltration (NF) membranes. Membrane performance was evaluated in a cross-flow nanofiltration (NF) system using 3000 ppm aqueous solutions of MgCl₂, Na₂SO₄ and NaCl, respectively, as feed at 10 bar and ambient temperature. All membranes showed high rejection of Na₂SO₄ (around 97–98%) and low NaCl rejection, with the corresponding water fluxes greater than 100 L m⁻² h⁻¹. The rejection of MgCl₂ (ranging from 82 to 90%) was less than that for Na₂SO₄. However, our values are much greater than those reported in the literature for other TFN membranes. The remarkable rejection of MgCl₂ is attributed to positively charged HNT-G1 nanoparticles incorporated in the selective polyamide (PA) layer of the TFN membranes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Membrane Materials for Gas Separation and Water Treatment)

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15 pages, 2976 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Eco-Friendly OSN Membranes Based on Alginate Salts with Variable Nanofiltration Properties

by Evgenia Dmitrieva, Alisa Raeva, Daria Razlataya and Tatyana Anokhina

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020244 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2528

Abstract

In this work, membranes for organic solvents nanofiltration (OSN) based on a natural polymer, sodium alginate, were fabricated. They are chemically stable in organic solvents, including aprotic polar solvents. The unique advantage of these membranes is the absence of toxic reagents and solvents [...] Read more.

In this work, membranes for organic solvents nanofiltration (OSN) based on a natural polymer, sodium alginate, were fabricated. They are chemically stable in organic solvents, including aprotic polar solvents. The unique advantage of these membranes is the absence of toxic reagents and solvents during their production. This ensures the safety and environmental friendliness of the production process. It has been shown that an operation as simple as changing the cation in alginate (Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Al³⁺, Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺) makes it possible to control the transport and separating properties of membranes, depending on the organic solvent being separated. Therefore, to isolate RemazolBrilliant Blue with MM = 626 g·mol⁻¹ from ethanol, membranes based on iron alginate with a rejection R = 97% and a permeability of 1.5 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹·bar⁻¹ are the most efficient. For isolation of the same solute from DMF and MP, membranes based on calcium alginate with an R of about 90% and a permeability of 0.1–0.2 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹·bar⁻¹ are the most efficient. The resulting membranes based on natural biodegradable sodium alginate are competitive compared to membranes based on synthetic polymers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Approaches for Fabrication of Filtration Membranes (Volume II))

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16 pages, 3739 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Computational Design of an Electro-Membrane Microfluidic-Diode System

by Mykola Bondarenko and Andriy Yaroshchuk

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020243 - 17 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1285

Abstract

This study uses computational design to explore the performance of a novel electro-membrane microfluidic diode consisting of physically conjugated nanoporous and micro-perforated ion-exchange layers. Previously, such structures have been demonstrated to exhibit asymmetric electroosmosis, but the model was unrealistic in several important respects. [...] Read more.

This study uses computational design to explore the performance of a novel electro-membrane microfluidic diode consisting of physically conjugated nanoporous and micro-perforated ion-exchange layers. Previously, such structures have been demonstrated to exhibit asymmetric electroosmosis, but the model was unrealistic in several important respects. This numerical study investigates two quantitative measures of performance (linear velocity of net flow and efficiency) as functions of such principal system parameters as perforation size and spacing, the thickness of the nanoporous layer and the zeta potential of the pore surface. All of these dependencies exhibit pronounced maxima, which is of interest for future practical applications. The calculated linear velocities of net flows are in the range of several tens of liters per square meter per hour at realistically applied voltages. The system performance somewhat declines when the perforation size is increased from 2 µm to 128 µm (with a parallel increase of the inter-perforation spacing) but remains quite decent even for the largest perforation size. Such perforations should be relatively easy to generate using inexpensive equipment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Membranes: Materials, Characterization, Testing, and Cleaning)

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16 pages, 4066 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quercetin-Loaded Polycaprolactone-Polyvinylpyrrolidone Electrospun Membranes for Health Application: Design, Characterization, Modeling and Cytotoxicity Studies

by Gianluca Viscusi, Gaetana Paolella, Elena Lamberti, Ivana Caputo and Giuliana Gorrasi

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020242 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2267

Abstract

Fibrous membranes of polycaprolactone (PCL)-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) encapsulating 15% wt of quercetin are fabricated by a uniaxial electrospinning technique. Morphological analysis of the electrospun systems proved the fabrication of micrometric fibers (1.58 µm for PCL/PVP and 2.34 µm for quercetin-loaded membrane). The liquid retention [...] Read more.

Fibrous membranes of polycaprolactone (PCL)-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) encapsulating 15% wt of quercetin are fabricated by a uniaxial electrospinning technique. Morphological analysis of the electrospun systems proved the fabrication of micrometric fibers (1.58 µm for PCL/PVP and 2.34 µm for quercetin-loaded membrane). The liquid retention degree of the electrospun membranes is evaluated by testing four different liquid media. The contact angle estimation is performed by testing three liquids: phosphate buffer solution, basic solution (pH = 13) and acidic solution (pH = 3), showing high hydrophobicity degree (contact angles > 90°) in all cases. The release of quercetin from the nanofibers in PBS (phosphate buffer solution) and pH = 3 medium, modeled through different models, shows the possibility of a fine tuning of drug release (up to 7 days) for the produced materials. The release profiles attained a plateau regime after roughly 50 h up to 82% and 71% for PBS and pH = 3 media, respectively. Then, since quercetin is known to undergo photooxidation upon UV radiation, release tests after different UV treatment times are carried out and compared with the untreated membrane, demonstrating that the release of the active drug changes from 82% for no-irradiated sample up to 57% after 10 h of UV exposure. The biology activity of released quercetin is evaluated on two human cell lines. The reported results demonstrate the ability of the quercetin-loaded membranes to reduce cell viability of human cell lines in two different conditions: direct contact between cells and quercetin-loaded membranes and cells treatment with culture medium previously conditioned with quercetin-loaded membranes. Therefore, the reported preliminary data confirm the possibility of applying the electrospun quercetin-loaded PCL-PVP membranes for health applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes and Membrane Processes in Medicine)

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19 pages, 4777 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of a CAB−GO/PES Mixed Matrix Ultrafiltration Membrane and Its Antifouling Performance

by Haiyan Wu, Ling Wang, Wentao Xu, Zehai Xu and Guoliang Zhang

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020241 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2355

Abstract

Serious membrane fouling has limited the development of ultrafiltration membrane technology for water purification. Synthesis of an ultrafiltration membrane with prominent anti-fouling ability is of vital importance. In this study, CAB−GO composite nanosheets were prepared by grafting graphene oxide (GO) with a zwitterionic [...] Read more.

Serious membrane fouling has limited the development of ultrafiltration membrane technology for water purification. Synthesis of an ultrafiltration membrane with prominent anti-fouling ability is of vital importance. In this study, CAB−GO composite nanosheets were prepared by grafting graphene oxide (GO) with a zwitterionic material cocamidopropyl betaine (CAB) with strong antifouling properties. Anti-fouling CAB−GO/PES mixed matrix ultrafiltration membrane (CGM) was prepared by the phase inversion method with polyethersulfone (PES). Due to its electrostatic interaction, the interlayer distance between CAB−GO nanosheets was increased, and the dispersibility of GO was improved to large extent, thereby effectively avoiding the phenomenon of GO agglomeration in organic solvents. Based on the improvement of the surface porosity and surface hydrophilicity of the CAB−GO/PES mixed matrix membrane, the pure water flux of CGM−1.0 can reach 461 L/(m²·h), which was 2.5 times higher than that of the original PES membrane, and the rejection rates toward BSA and HA were above 96%. Moreover, when the content of CAB−GO was 0.1 wt%, the prepared CAB−GO/PES membrane exhibited very high BSA (99.1%) and HA (98.1%) rejection during long-term operation, indicating excellent anti-fouling ability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fabrication, Characterization and Application of Organic/Inorganic Film Membranes and Advanced Materials (Volume II))

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15 pages, 3320 KiB

Open AccessReview

Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Membranes for Vascular Stent Coating: Manufacturing, Biomedical and Surgical Applications, Innovations and Case Reports

by Roberta Cassano, Paolo Perri, Antonio Esposito, Francesco Intrieri, Roberta Sole, Federica Curcio and Sonia Trombino

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020240 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5087

Abstract

Coated stents are defined as innovative stents surrounded by a thin polymer membrane based on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)useful in the treatment of numerous vascular pathologies. Endovascular methodology involves the use of such devices to restore blood flow in small-, medium- and large-calibre arteries, both [...] Read more.

Coated stents are defined as innovative stents surrounded by a thin polymer membrane based on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)useful in the treatment of numerous vascular pathologies. Endovascular methodology involves the use of such devices to restore blood flow in small-, medium- and large-calibre arteries, both centrally and peripherally. These membranes cross the stent struts and act as a physical barrier to block the growth of intimal tissue in the lumen, preventing so-called intimal hyperplasia and late stent thrombosis. PTFE for vascular applications is known as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) and it can be rolled up to form a thin multilayer membrane expandable by 4 to 5 times its original diameter. This membrane plays an important role in initiating the restenotic process because wrapped graft stent could be used as the treatment option for trauma devices during emergency situations and to treat a number of pathological vascular disease. In this review, we will investigate the multidisciplinary techniques used for the production of e-PTFE membranes, the advantages and disadvantages of their use, the innovations and the results in biomedical and surgery field when used to cover graft stents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane-Based Technologies in Pharmaceutical Sciences)

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13 pages, 2962 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Antimicrobial Gallium-Doped Zinc Oxide Thin Films on Bio-Based Poly(Ethylene Furanoate) Substrates for Food Packaging Application

by Chaoting Zhu, Danling Ye, Tianqi Zhou, Yashuang Cui and Jianbing Yin

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020239 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2229

Abstract

Thin films of gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO), with a thickness of around fifty nanometers were deposited on bio-based poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) substrates by radio-frequency sputtering. By optimizing the Ga concentration in the target, the optics, water vapor barrier and antibacterial properties of PEF/GZO [...] Read more.

Thin films of gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO), with a thickness of around fifty nanometers were deposited on bio-based poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) substrates by radio-frequency sputtering. By optimizing the Ga concentration in the target, the optics, water vapor barrier and antibacterial properties of PEF/GZO composite films can be adjusted. The highest visible light transmittance of the samples was around 85.1%. Furthermore, by introducing some GZO films with typical concentrations, the water vapor barrier and antibacterial properties of PEF films were improved. The optimized water vapor permeability of PEF/GZO composite film was 5.3 × 10⁻¹² g·m/m²·s·Pa, and the highest antibacterial rate can reach 99.85% after 4 h. By XPS analysis, the antibacterial mechanism in the samples is envisaged to be mainly due cytotoxicity of Ga ions. The above results indicate that PEF/GZO films have great potential in the field of antibacterial food packaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Membrane Technology in Foods and Natural Products)

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15 pages, 2398 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Cation Effect on the Free Volume and the Solubility of H₂S and CO₂ in Ionic Liquids Based on Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) Sulfosuccinate Anion

by Tatyana S. Sazanova, Alsu I. Akhmetshina, Anton N. Petukhov, Andrey V. Vorotyntsev, Sergey S. Suvorov, Alexandra V. Barysheva, Amal Mechergui, Alexander V. Nyuchev, Olga V. Kazarina, Anna N. Stepakova, Maria E. Atlaskina, Artem A. Atlaskin, Sergey S. Kryuchkov and Ilya V. Vorotyntsev

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020238 - 16 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2289

Abstract

Herein, we report for the first time a study dedicated to acidic gases’ solubility in ionic liquids with sterically hindered bulky anion, namely bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate ([doc]), experimentally evaluated at low pressures. The effect of cation change (imidazolium, pyridinium, and pyrrolidinium) on the thermophysical [...] Read more.

Herein, we report for the first time a study dedicated to acidic gases’ solubility in ionic liquids with sterically hindered bulky anion, namely bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate ([doc]), experimentally evaluated at low pressures. The effect of cation change (imidazolium, pyridinium, and pyrrolidinium) on the thermophysical properties and sorption capacities was also discussed. The densities and the activation energies of the tested ILs exhibited minor differences. Furthermore, the COSMO-RS model was used to predict the free volumes of ILs aiming to investigate its influence on gas solubilities. The conducted calculations have revealed an antibate correlation between the fractional free volume (FFV) and Henry’s law constant. In particular, the lowest FFV in 1-methylimidazolium [doc] corresponded to the minimal sorption and vice versa. In addition, it was shown that the presence of protic cation results in a significant reduction in CO₂ and H₂S solubilities. In general, the solubility measurement results of the synthesized ILs have shown their superiority compared to fluorinated ILs based on the physical absorption mechanism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymeric Membranes for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS))

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13 pages, 3363 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lignin Recovery from Black Liquor Using Integrated UF/NF Processes and Economic Analysis

by Manorma Sharma, Patrícia Alves and Licínio M. Gando-Ferreira

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020237 - 16 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2111

Abstract

Lignin is a polyphenolic biopolymer present in large amounts in black liquor (BL). This work investigated the recovery of lignin from BL (pre-filtered by ultrafiltration (UF)) by nanofiltration (NF). For the NF tests, laboratory-made mixed matrix membrane (MMM) prepared with 0.1% activated carbon [...] Read more.

Lignin is a polyphenolic biopolymer present in large amounts in black liquor (BL). This work investigated the recovery of lignin from BL (pre-filtered by ultrafiltration (UF)) by nanofiltration (NF). For the NF tests, laboratory-made mixed matrix membrane (MMM) prepared with 0.1% activated carbon (AC) nanoparticles were used in crossflow filtration mode. The effect of pressure (6–15 bar) and volume reduction (VR) (~65%) were analyzed, and the filtration performance was evaluated in terms of permeate flux, lignin rejection rate, and flux reduction. The lignin rejection rate varied in the range of 67–80% with the pressure, however, the highest increases in flux and rejection were observed at 12 bar, which was found to be the optimum pressure. At a VR of ~65%, the permeate flux decreased by ~55% and the lignin rejection rate increased from 78% to 86%. In addition, an economic evaluation was performed for the preparation of UF and NF MMM. The minimum-to-maximum price range was estimated considering the costs of the laboratory and commercial grade regents. It showed a difference of ~10-fold and ~14-fold for UF and NF membranes, respectively. The results of the laboratory-scale study were used to evaluate the economic feasibility of the process for recovering lignin- and hemicellulose-rich retentate streams. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Advancements for Pollutant Removal and Environmental Applications/Remediations)

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15 pages, 1249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Kinetic Models Applied for Transport Description in Polymer Inclusion Membranes

by Piotr Szczepański

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020236 - 16 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1457

Abstract

Five mathematical models for transport description in polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) were presented and compared via regression analysis. The applicability of the models was estimated through the examination of experimental data of Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) ions transported by typical carriers. In [...] Read more.

Five mathematical models for transport description in polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) were presented and compared via regression analysis. The applicability of the models was estimated through the examination of experimental data of Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) ions transported by typical carriers. In four kinetic models, a change in the feed and stripping solution volume was taken into account. The goodness of fit was compared using the standard error of the regression, Akaike information criterion (AIC), Bayesian (Schwarz) information criterion (BIC), and Hannan–Quinn information criterion (HQC). The randomness distribution in the data was confirmed via a nonparametric runs test. Based on these quantities, appropriate models were selected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Inclusion Membranes: Analytical Applications)

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12 pages, 3330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Borate Transporters and SLC4 Bicarbonate Transporters Share Key Functional Properties

by Jean L. Beltran, Lila G. McGrath, Sophia Caruso, Richara K. Bain, Claire E. Hendrix, Hana Kamran, Hartlee G. Johnston, Rebecca M. Collings, Menkara-Chinua N. Henry, Tsega-Ab L. Abera, Valeria A. Donoso, Erin C. Carriker and Bryan H. Thurtle-Schmidt

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020235 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2093

Abstract

Borate transporters are membrane transport proteins that regulate intracellular borate levels. In plants, borate is a micronutrient essential for growth but is toxic in excess, while in yeast, borate is unnecessary for growth and borate export confers tolerance. Borate transporters share structural homology [...] Read more.

Borate transporters are membrane transport proteins that regulate intracellular borate levels. In plants, borate is a micronutrient essential for growth but is toxic in excess, while in yeast, borate is unnecessary for growth and borate export confers tolerance. Borate transporters share structural homology with human bicarbonate transporters in the SLC4 family despite low sequence identity and differences in transported solutes. Here, we characterize the S. cerevisiae borate transporter Bor1p and examine whether key biochemical features of SLC4 transporters extend to borate transporters. We show that borate transporters and SLC4 transporters share multiple properties, including lipid-promoted dimerization, sensitivity to stilbene disulfonate-derived inhibitors, and a requirement for an acidic residue at the solute binding site. We also identify several amino acids critical for Bor1p function and show that disease-causing mutations in human SLC4A1 will eliminate in vivo function when their homologous mutations are introduced in Bor1p. Our data help elucidate mechanistic features of Bor1p and reveal significant functional properties shared between borate transporters and SLC4 transporters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Proteins: Function, Structure, and Dynamic)

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12 pages, 2376 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Fouling Comparison Study of Algal, Bacterial and Humic Organic Matters in Seawater Desalination Pretreatment Using Ceramic UF Membranes

by Mohammed Al Namazi, Sheng Li, Noreddine Ghaffour, TorOve Leiknes and Gary Amy

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020234 - 15 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1928

Abstract

This study investigates three types of organic matter, namely algal organic matter (AOM), bacterial organic matter (BOM), and humic organic matter (HOM). These organics are different in properties and chemical composition. AOM, BOM and HOM were compared in terms of organic content, fouling [...] Read more.

This study investigates three types of organic matter, namely algal organic matter (AOM), bacterial organic matter (BOM), and humic organic matter (HOM). These organics are different in properties and chemical composition. AOM, BOM and HOM were compared in terms of organic content, fouling behavior, and removal efficiency in ceramic UF filtration. UF experiments were conducted at a constant flux mode using 5 kDa and 50 kDa ceramic membranes. Results showed that 5 kDa membrane removed more transparent exopolymer particles (TEP)/organics than 50 kDa membranes, but less fouling formation for all the three types of organic matters tested. Membranes exhibited the lowest trans-membrane pressure (TMP) during the filtration of HOM, most probably due to the high porosity of the HOM cake layer, contributed by big HOM aggregates under Ca bridging effect. AOM shows the highest MFI-UF (modified fouling index-ultrafiltration) and TMP (transmembrane pressure) values among the three organics and during all filtration cycles for both membranes. The AOM fouling layer is well known for having high fouling potential due to its compressibility and compactness which increase the TMP and eventually the MFI values. AOM and BOM organics exhibited a similar fouling behavior and mechanism. Furthermore, the divalent cations such as calcium showed a significant impact on membrane fouling. That is probably because calcium ions made the membranes and organic matter less negatively charged and easier to deposit on membranes, thus, enhancing the membrane fouling significantly. Full article

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14 pages, 4082 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vibration Characteristic Analysis of Hollow Fiber Membrane for Air Dehumidification Using Fluid-Structure Interaction

by Caihang Liang, Jiaxing Chen, Nanfeng Li, Yanfang Dong, Tao Zhong, Si Zeng and Chuanshuai Dong

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020233 - 15 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1528

Abstract

Hollow fiber membrane dehumidification is an effective and economical method of air dehumidification. The hollow fiber membrane module is the critical component of the dehumidification system, which is formed by an arrangement of several hollow fiber membranes. The air stream crosses over the [...] Read more.

Hollow fiber membrane dehumidification is an effective and economical method of air dehumidification. The hollow fiber membrane module is the critical component of the dehumidification system, which is formed by an arrangement of several hollow fiber membranes. The air stream crosses over the fiber bundles when air dehumidification is performed. The fibers vibrate with the airflow. To investigate the characteristics of the fluid-induced vibration of the hollow fiber membrane, the two-way fluid-structure interaction model under the air-induced condition was established and verified by experiments. The effect of length and air velocity on the vibration and modal of a single hollow fiber membrane was studied, as well as the flow characteristics using the numerical simulation method. The results indicated that the hollow fiber membrane was mainly vibrated by fluid impact in the direction of the airflow. When the air velocity was 1.5 m/s~6 m/s and the membrane length was 100~400 mm, the natural frequency of the membrane was negatively correlated with length and positively correlated with air velocity. Natural frequencies were more sensitive to changes in length than changes in air velocity. The maximum equivalent stress and total deformation increased with air velocity and length. The maximum equivalent stress was concentrated at both ends, and the maximum deformation occurred in the middle. The research results provided a basis for the structural design of hollow fiber membranes under flow-induced vibration conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Separation Principles and Applications of Membrane Technology)

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18 pages, 9904 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Methacrylic Acid Monomer on UV-Grafted Polyethersulfone Forward Osmosis Membrane

by S. N. S. A. Aziz, M. N. Abu Seman, S. M. Saufi, A. W. Mohammad and M. Khayet

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020232 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2089

Abstract

UV irradiation is one of the procedures that has been considered for membrane surface graft polymerization. It is commonly utilized for enhancing the wettability of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes. In this research study, the monomer methacrylic acid (MAA) was used for the UV grafting [...] Read more.

UV irradiation is one of the procedures that has been considered for membrane surface graft polymerization. It is commonly utilized for enhancing the wettability of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes. In this research study, the monomer methacrylic acid (MAA) was used for the UV grafting process of a commercial NF2 PES membrane for the preparation of a forward osmosis (FO) membrane. Three different monomer concentrations and three different UV irradiation times were considered. The intrinsic characteristics of both the surface-modified and pristine membranes were determined via a non-pressurized test method. Compared to the NF2 PES, the surface of the modified membranes was rendered more hydrophilic, as the measured water contact angle was reduced considerably from 65° to 32–58°. The membrane surface modification was also confirmed by the data collected from other techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission-scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflectance (FTIR–ATR). Additionally, the modified membranes exhibited a greater water permeate flux (J_w) compared to the NF2 PES membrane. In this study, the water permeability (A), solute permeability (B) and structural parameter (S) were determined via a two-stage FO non-pressurized test method, changing the membrane orientation. Compared to the FO pressurized test, smaller S values were obtained with significantly high A and B values for the two non-pressurized tests. The adopted method in the current study is more adequate for determining the intrinsic characteristics of FO membranes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Science towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs))

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19 pages, 10459 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Effect of Atmospheric Plasma Treatment in Nanofiber and Nanocomposite Membranes for Piezoelectric Applications

by Papia Sultana, Mujibur Khan, Debdyuti Mandal, Mohammadsadegh Saadatzi and Sourav Banerjee

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020231 - 14 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2006

Abstract

In this work, we report the effect of steady-state atmospheric plasma (Corona discharge) in nanofibers and nanocomposite membranes for piezoelectric applications. The investigation was performed in PVDF (Poly vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers, CNT (Carbon Nanotubes)-reinforced PVDF nanocomposites, and PAN (Poly acrylonitrile) nanofiber membranes. Steady-state [...] Read more.

In this work, we report the effect of steady-state atmospheric plasma (Corona discharge) in nanofibers and nanocomposite membranes for piezoelectric applications. The investigation was performed in PVDF (Poly vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers, CNT (Carbon Nanotubes)-reinforced PVDF nanocomposites, and PAN (Poly acrylonitrile) nanofiber membranes. Steady-state plasma was generated with a high voltage power source with 1 mA discharge current output and 6 kV discharge voltage, and the gap between tip and the material was maintained to be 1 cm. For the fabrication of nanofibers and nanocomposite membranes, an electrospinning method was used. The electrospinning parameters, such as flow rate and voltage, were optimally tuned for obtaining uniform nanofibers and nanomembranes. Along with the plasma treatment, heat treatment above the glass transition temperature was also conducted on the nanofiber membranes. Using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), the morphology of the nanofibers was observed. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) demonstrated the polycrystallinity of the nanofibers. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of the PVDF nanofibers shows a peak at 796 cm⁻¹ representing α-phase (C-H rocking) in the control sample which is absent in the treated samples. Raman spectroscopy of PVDF nanofibers identifies a Raman shift from 873 cm⁻¹ to 877 cm⁻¹ (denoting β-phase) for plasma-treated samples only. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) concludes that the intensity of the free radicals increases from 1.37 to 1.46 (a.u.) after plasma treatment. Then, sensors were fabricated from the PVDF nanofibers, MWCNT-reinforced PVDF nanofibers, and PAN nanofibers to characterize their piezoelectric properties. The impact test results showed that the atmospheric plasma and heat-treated samples had 86%, 277%, and 92% increases of the d₃₃ value (piezoelectric coefficient) in the case of PVDF nanofibers, MWCNT-reinforced nanofibers, and PAN nanofibers, respectively. It was also observed that the capacitance of the nanofiber membranes has increased due to the plasma treatment. Full article

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12 pages, 1924 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reclaiming of Amine CO₂ Solvent Using Extraction of Heat Stable Salts in Liquid-Liquid Membrane Contactor

by Sergey Shirokikh, Denis Kalmykov, Dmitry Matveev and Stepan Bazhenov

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020230 - 14 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2496

Abstract

Amine CO₂ solvents undergo oxidative degradation with the formation of heat stable salts (HSS). These HSS reduce the sorption capacity of amines and lead to intense corrosion of the equipment. In our work, we propose a membrane-supported liquid-liquid extraction of the HSS [...] Read more.

Amine CO₂ solvents undergo oxidative degradation with the formation of heat stable salts (HSS). These HSS reduce the sorption capacity of amines and lead to intense corrosion of the equipment. In our work, we propose a membrane-supported liquid-liquid extraction of the HSS from alkanolamines. For this purpose, a hollow fiber membrane contactor was used for the first time. A lab-scale extraction system on the basis of a hollow-fiber liquid-liquid membrane contactor with hollow fiber ultrafiltration polyvinylidenefluoride and polysulfone membranes has been studied. The extraction of the HSS-ions from a 30 wt.% solution of monoethanolamine was carried out using a 0.25–1 M solution of OH-modified methyltrioctylammonium chloride in 1-octanol as an extractant. It has been shown that >90% of HSS ions can be extracted from the alkanolamine solvent within 8 h after extraction. The results obtained confirm the possibility of using membrane extraction with a liquid-liquid membrane contactor for the reclaiming of amine CO₂ solvents to increase the general efficiency of carbon dioxide capture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Technologies for Resource Recovery (Volume II))

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18 pages, 4853 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Enhancement of Kaolin/Chitosan Composite-Based Membranes by Cross-Linking with Sodium Tripolyphosphate: Preparation and Characterization

by S. Bouzid Rekik, S. Gassara, J. Bouaziz, S. Baklouti and A. Deratani

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 229; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020229 - 14 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2193

Abstract

A new family of environmentally friendly and low-cost membranes based on readily available mineral and polymeric materials has been developed from cast suspensions of kaolin and chitosan using aqueous phase separation and polyethylene glycol as a pore-forming agent. The as-fabricated membranes were further [...] Read more.

A new family of environmentally friendly and low-cost membranes based on readily available mineral and polymeric materials has been developed from cast suspensions of kaolin and chitosan using aqueous phase separation and polyethylene glycol as a pore-forming agent. The as-fabricated membranes were further cross-linked with sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) in order to strengthen the properties of the obtained samples. The functional groups determined by FTIR and EDX confirmed that the reaction occurred. A detailed study of the effects of cross-linking time on the physicochemical, surface and permeation properties showed that a 30-minute reaction enabled the composite membrane to be stable in acidic media (up to pH 2) and increased the mechanical strength twofold compared to the non-cross-linked membrane. A similar morphology to that generally observed in polymeric membranes was obtained, with a sponge-like surface overlaying a finger-like through structure. The top layer and cross-section thicknesses of the membranes increased during STPP post-treatment, while the pore size decreased from 160 to 15 nm. At the same time, the molecular weight cut-off and permeance decreased due to the increase in cross-linking density. These results observed in a series of kaolin/chitosan composite membranes showed that STPP reaction can provide control over the separation capability range, from microfiltration to ultrafiltration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification and Performance Enhancement for Membranes)

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17 pages, 888 KiB

Open AccessReview

Agricultural Residues as Raw Materials for Pulp and Paper Production: Overview and Applications on Membrane Fabrication

by Limenew Abate Worku, Archana Bachheti, Rakesh Kumar Bachheti, Cristiano E. Rodrigues Reis and Anuj Kumar Chandel

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020228 - 14 Feb 2023

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 15947

Abstract

The need for pulp and paper has risen significantly due to exponential population growth, industrialization, and urbanization. Most paper manufacturing industries use wood fibers to meet pulp and paper requirements. The shortage of fibrous wood resources and increased deforestation are linked to the [...] Read more.

The need for pulp and paper has risen significantly due to exponential population growth, industrialization, and urbanization. Most paper manufacturing industries use wood fibers to meet pulp and paper requirements. The shortage of fibrous wood resources and increased deforestation are linked to the excessive dependence on wood for pulp and paper production. Therefore, non-wood substitutes, including corn stalks, sugarcane bagasse, wheat, and rice straw, cotton stalks, and others, may greatly alleviate the shortage of raw materials used to make pulp and paper. Non-woody raw materials can be pulped easily using soda/soda-AQ (anthraquinone), organosolv, and bio-pulping. The use of agricultural residues can also play a pivotal role in the development of polymeric membranes separating different molecular weight cut-off molecules from a variety of feedstocks in industries. These membranes range in applications from water purification to medicinal uses. Considering that some farmers still burn agricultural residues on the fields, resulting in significant air pollution and health issues, the use of agricultural residues in paper manufacturing can eventually help these producers to get better financial outcomes from the grown crop. This paper reviews the current trends in the technological pitch of pulp and paper production from agricultural residues using different pulping methods, with an insight into the application of membranes developed from lignocellulosic materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes in Biomass Waste Conversion and Reutillization)

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31 pages, 10674 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surface Treatment by Physical Irradiation for Antifouling, Chlorine-Resistant RO Membranes

by Marwa S. Shalaby, Heba Abdallah, Ralph Wilken, Schmüser Christoph and Ahmed M. Shaban

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020227 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1633

Abstract

Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes represent a strategic tool for the development of desalination and water treatment processes. Today’s global needs for clean water supplies show stressing circumstances to secure this supply, relying upon desalination and wastewater treatment and reuse, especially in Egypt and [...] Read more.

Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes represent a strategic tool for the development of desalination and water treatment processes. Today’s global needs for clean water supplies show stressing circumstances to secure this supply, relying upon desalination and wastewater treatment and reuse, especially in Egypt and the Middle East. However, chlorine attack and fouling of polyamide layers, the active (selective) layers of RO membranes, are representing a great obstacle to seriously spreading the use of this technology. One promising way of fouling control and chlorine resistance is surface modification using grafting by plasma or vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation as a layer-by-layer assembly on polyamide membranes. Several studies have shown the effect of grafting by plasma using methacrylic acid (atmospheric pressure plasma) and showed that grafted coatings can improve PA membranes toward permeation compared with commercial ones with fouling behavior but not chlorine resistance. In this work, the techniques of layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly for previously prepared PA RO membranes (3T) using a mixed-base polymer of polysulfone and polyacrylonitrile in the presence of nanographene oxide (GO) without chemical grafting and with chemically grafted poly-methacrylic acid (3TG) were used. Membranes 3T, 3TG, a blank one (a base polymer membrane only was surface modified using VUV activation (AKT), and one with a grafted layer with polyethylene glycol (VUV-PEG) were prepared. These were then compared with polydimethylsiloxane (VUV-PDMS) and another surface modification with low-pressure plasma using acrylic acid (acryl) and hexadimethyl siloxane (GrowPLAS). The tested membranes were evaluated by short-term permeation and salt rejection experiments together with fouling behavior and chlorine resistance. A clear improvement of chlorine resistance and antifouling was observed for 3T membranes under plasma treatment, especially with the grafting with polyacrylic acid. Better antifouling and antichlorine behaviors were achieved with the vacuum UV treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Materials and Processes for Liquid and Gas Separation)

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17 pages, 5609 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Second-Generation Magnesium Phosphates as Water Extractant Agents in Forward Osmosis and Subsequent Use in Hydroponics

by Esther Mendoza, Albert Magrí, Gaëtan Blandin, Àlex Bayo, Josephine Vosse, Gianluigi Buttiglieri, Jesús Colprim and Joaquim Comas

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020226 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2130

Abstract

The recovery of nutrients from wastewater streams for their later use in agricultural fertilization is an interesting approach. Wastewater recovered magnesium phosphate (MgP) salts were used in a forward osmosis (FO) system as draw solution in order to extract water and to produce [...] Read more.

The recovery of nutrients from wastewater streams for their later use in agricultural fertilization is an interesting approach. Wastewater recovered magnesium phosphate (MgP) salts were used in a forward osmosis (FO) system as draw solution in order to extract water and to produce a nutrient solution to be used in a hydroponic system with lettuces (Lactuca sativa, L.). Owing to the low solubility of the MgP salts (i.e., struvite, hazenite and cattiite) in water, acid dissolution was successfully tested using citric and nitric acids to reach pH 3.0. The dilution by FO of the dissolved salts reached levels close to those needed by a hydroponic culture. Ion migration through the membrane was medium to high, and although it did not limit the dilution potential of the system, it might decrease the overall feasibility of the FO process. Functional growth of the lettuces in the hydroponic system was achieved with the three MgP salts using the recovered water as nutrient solution, once properly supplemented with nutrients with the desired concentrations. This is an innovative approach for promoting water reuse in hydroponics that benefits from the use of precipitated MgP salts as a nutrient source. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Studies of Membranes for Liquids Separation and Water Treatment)

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16 pages, 4293 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anti-Wetting Performance of an Electrospun PVDF/PVP Membrane Modified by Solvothermal Treatment in Membrane Distillation

by Yubo Xu, Long-Fei Ren, Jun Li, Chengyi Wang, Yangbo Qiu, Jiahui Shao and Yiliang He

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 225; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020225 - 11 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2227

Abstract

Membrane distillation (MD) is attractive for water reclamation due to the fact of its unique characteristics. However, membrane wetting becomes an obstacle to its further application. In this paper, a novel hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVDF/PVP) membrane was fabricated by electrospinning and solvothermal [...] Read more.

Membrane distillation (MD) is attractive for water reclamation due to the fact of its unique characteristics. However, membrane wetting becomes an obstacle to its further application. In this paper, a novel hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVDF/PVP) membrane was fabricated by electrospinning and solvothermal treatment. The electrospun membranes prepared by electrospinning showed a multilevel interconnected nanofibrous structure. Then, a solvothermal treatment introduced the micro/nanostructure to the membrane with high roughness (Ra = 598 nm), thereby the water contact angle of the membrane increased to 158.3 ± 2.2°. Owing to the superior hydrophobicity, the membrane presented high resistance to wetting in both NaCl and SDS solutions. Compared to the pristine PVDF membrane, which showed wetting with a flux decline (120 min for 0.05 mM surfactant solution treatment), the prepared membrane showed outstanding stability over 600 min, even in 0.2 mM surfactant solutions. These results confirm a simple method for anti-wetting hydrophobic membrane preparation, which presented universal significance to direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) for industrial application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Membrane-Based Desalination Technologies)

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21 pages, 7454 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nylon 6,6 Waste Nanofiber Membrane for Produced Water Filtration: Experimental, Performance Modelling, Optimization and Techno-Economic Analysis

by Nur Syakinah Abd Halim, Shafiq Mohd Hizam, Wan Mohamad Syameer Wan Suhaimi, Ahmad Syahmi Ahmad Farid, Puteri Nur Khaliesah Abd Rahman, Mohd Dzul Hakim Wirzal, Nonni Soraya Sambudi and Nik Abdul Hadi Md Nordin

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 224; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020224 - 11 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2293

Abstract

Produced water (PW) is a by-product of oil and gas extraction, of which it is deemed as the primary contributor of wastewater stream in oil production. Conventional treatment such as membrane separation is favoured due to its sustainability and cost effectiveness. On the [...] Read more.

Produced water (PW) is a by-product of oil and gas extraction, of which it is deemed as the primary contributor of wastewater stream in oil production. Conventional treatment such as membrane separation is favoured due to its sustainability and cost effectiveness. On the other hand, oceanic litters such as abandoned fishing nets endangered the marine life ecosystem, despite of its potential to be raw material for fabrication of nanofiber membrane (NFM). This study explores the potential usage of electrospun nylon 6,6 waste NFM for treatment of real PW. In terms of modelling, it is found that feed concentration is the dominant factor with R2 of 0.94 for permeate concentration response and 0.91 for average flux response. Moreover, the optimized system with average flux of 216.5 L/m²h with low specific power consumption of ca. 0.09 kWh/m³ is proven to be economically feasible with less than 5% error from predicted model. As for technoeconomic analysis, it is found that permeate flux plays the major role in controlling total capital cost (CAPEX) and operating cost (OPEX) of the system. The lowest total CAPEX and OPEX to achieve 10 ppm of permeate concentration, also was found to be RM 3.7 M and RM/year 1660, hence proving the economic feasibility of the proposed system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance Improvement of Membranes with Additives for Water Treatment)

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49 pages, 19580 KiB

Open AccessReview

Remodeling of Biomembranes and Vesicles by Adhesion of Condensate Droplets

by Reinhard Lipowsky

Membranes 2023, 13(2), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020223 - 10 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2913

Abstract

Condensate droplets are formed in aqueous solutions of macromolecules that undergo phase separation into two liquid phases. A well-studied example are solutions of the two polymers PEG and dextran which have been used for a long time in biochemical analysis and biotechnology. More [...] Read more.

Condensate droplets are formed in aqueous solutions of macromolecules that undergo phase separation into two liquid phases. A well-studied example are solutions of the two polymers PEG and dextran which have been used for a long time in biochemical analysis and biotechnology. More recently, phase separation has also been observed in living cells where it leads to membrane-less or droplet-like organelles. In the latter case, the condensate droplets are enriched in certain types of proteins. Generic features of condensate droplets can be studied in simple binary mixtures, using molecular dynamics simulations. In this review, I address the interactions of condensate droplets with biomimetic and biological membranes. When a condensate droplet adheres to such a membrane, the membrane forms a contact line with the droplet and acquires a very high curvature close to this line. The contact angles along the contact line can be observed via light microscopy, lead to a classification of the possible adhesion morphologies, and determine the affinity contrast between the two coexisting liquid phases and the membrane. The remodeling processes generated by condensate droplets include wetting transitions, formation of membrane nanotubes as well as complete engulfment and endocytosis of the droplets by the membranes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Models of Biological Membranes)

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