Abstract
Electropositive membranes demonstrating high flux at low pressure differentials show great promise as universal separation platforms for viruses and other charged entities when centralized systems of water and power are scarce. However, the fabrication of a suitably stable membrane with optimal electrostatic characteristics remains a challenge. Here, hydrogenated detonation nanodiamond was loaded onto a quartz microfiber support membrane and coupled to the membrane surface under a high vacuum annealing process. The fabricated membranes display a zeta potential of +45 mV at pH 7 and an isoelectric point around pH 11. We show that the nanodiamond coating is robust to prolonged periods of pressurized water flow by performing extensive zeta potential measurements over time, and water filtration tests demonstrated excellent membrane retention for the electronegative dye molecule acid black 2, and at least a 6.2 log10 reduction in MS2 bacteriophage from feed waters (>99.9999%).
Highlights
It is estimated that at least 1.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water worldwide.[1,2] Rapid population growth, urbanization, industrialization, and a changing climate continue to contribute to clean drinking water shortages for both developing and well-developed nations alike
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrograph of the membrane is displayed in Figure 1b; it exhibits a mesh of quartz fibers primarily in the submicron range
We have described a fabrication pathway that allows the extreme electropositive properties of hydrogenated detonation nanodiamond to be utilized for the filtration of viruses and other negatively charged contaminants found in drinking water
Summary
It is estimated that at least 1.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water worldwide.[1,2] Rapid population growth, urbanization, industrialization, and a changing climate continue to contribute to clean drinking water shortages for both developing and well-developed nations alike. One of the biggest challenges to universal clean drinking water is the presence of harmful nanoscale and subnanoscale contaminants, like bacteria, viruses, metals, metalloids, and the by-/wasteproducts of industry (pharmaceuticals, dyes, and pigments, etc.) that contaminate drinking water sources.[3−6] While a number of separation platforms exist to target the removal of such contaminants, it is generally only with nanofiltration (NF) or reverse osmosis (RO) that high retention levels can been achieved.[7,8] the relatively high costs of operation due to high power inputs and the requirement of large pressure differentials; the complexity of system design and maintenance; low chemical, mechanical, and/or thermal membrane stability; and an extreme susceptibility to fouling, have historically limited their widespread use to more centralized water treatment systems.[9−11]. Since retention is not achieved through size exclusion, as in NF/RO, ADF membranes may be fabricated to encompass a greater average pore size, and smaller pressure differentials are required
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