Membrane Modification Research Articles

Polyethersulfone mixed matrix membranes modified with pore formers and Ag-titanate nanotubes: physicochemical characteristics and (bio)fouling study.

In the presented studies it was hypothesized that the modification of a polymeric membrane with a pore former and a hybrid nanomaterial composed of titanate nanotubes with deposited Ag nanoparticles (Ag-TNTs NPs) can protect the membrane from the microbial growth, and thus enhance its resistance to biofouling. Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were prepared by the wet phase inversion, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were used as pore formers. The membranes were characterized in terms of morphology, topography, permeability, separation characteristics, and anti-(bio)fouling properties as well as antibacterial activity. The membranes modified with porogens and Ag-TNTs revealed improved hydrophilicity and water permeability compared to the unmodified membrane, from 58 to 66%. Moreover, the improvement in rejection of model dextrans and PEG upon application of the NPs was found. However, the use of PVP or PEG had a negative influence on the resistance to fouling by bovine serum albumin, i.e., ca. 35% of decline of permeate flux was noticed after 2h of ultrafiltration of BSA. On the contrary, both porogens and NPs contributed to biofouling mitigation. The introduction of pore formers had a positive effect on the inhibition of Escherichia coli growth by the membrane containing Ag-TNTs. The log reduction of bacteria varied from 3.17 to 3.3 in case of stirred and filtration system.

Feasible synthesis of anti-fouling amphiphobic composite membrane by surface modification with SiO2 nanoparticles for effective membrane distillation

Membrane distillation (MD) technology has shown unique advantages in treating saline organic wastewaters, however, improving membrane materials of anti-wetting/fouling properties is still agap for the large-scale application. In this study, a non-fluorinated composite membrane showing both good amphiphobic properties and high flux was synthesized by feasible electrostatic attraction. Characterizations indicated that SiO2nanoparticles were successfully loaded on the PVDF membrane (SiO2/PVDF) surface to form a multi-level rough amphiphobic structure, with contact angles of water and ethylene glycol as 139° and 128°, respectively. In MD tests, the SiO2/PVDF membrane exhibited a stable flux of 15 LMH with 3.5 wt% NaCl and 19.5 LMH with 50 mg/L kerosene. Notably, after a 24-hour continuous test, the flux remained above 9 LMH for NaCl and 11 LMH for kerosene, with salt rejection rates exceeding 98 %, indicating excellent anti-fouling characteristics. This study is expected to provide a feasible membrane modification for MD process in treating high saline organic wastewater.

Modification of ZIF-8 Membranes for Gas Separation Using X-ray Radiation.

We report an X-ray radiation-induced modification of the structure and gas permeation behavior of ZIF-8 membranes. With 300 min irradiation time, CO2 permeance decreases by only 9%, while N2 and CH4 permeances reduce by 75 and 65%, respectively, leading to 3.7- and 2.6-fold enhancements in ideal selectivity for CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4.

Leishmania protein KMP-11 modulates cholesterol transport and membrane fluidity to facilitate host cell invasion.

The first step of successful infection by any intracellular pathogen relies on its ability to invade its host cell membrane. However, the detailed structural and molecular understanding underlying lipid membrane modification during pathogenic invasion remains unclear. In this study, we show that a specific Leishmania donovani (LD) protein, KMP-11, forms oligomers that bridge LD and host macrophage (MΦ) membranes. This KMP-11 induced interaction between LD and MΦ depends on the variations in cholesterol (CHOL) and ergosterol (ERG) contents in their respective membranes. These variations are crucial for the subsequent steps of invasion, including (a) the initial attachment, (b) CHOL transport from MΦ to LD, and (c) detachment of LD from the initial point of contact through a liquid ordered (Lo) to liquid disordered (Ld) membrane-phase transition. To validate the importance of KMP-11, we generate KMP-11 depleted LD, which failed to attach and invade host MΦ. Through tryptophan-scanning mutagenesis and synthesized peptides, we develop a generalized mathematical model, which demonstrates that the hydrophobic moment and the symmetry sequence code at the membrane interacting protein domain are key factors in facilitating the membrane phase transition and, consequently, the host cell infection process by Leishmania parasites.

Encoding extracellular modification of artificial cell membranes using engineered self-translocating proteins

The development of artificial cells has led to fundamental insights into the functional processes of living cells while simultaneously paving the way for transformative applications in biotechnology and medicine. A common method of generating artificial cells is to encapsulate protein expression systems within lipid vesicles. However, to communicate with the external environment, protein translocation across lipid membranes must take place. In living cells, protein transport across membranes is achieved with the aid of complex translocase systems which are difficult to reconstitute into artificial cells. Thus, there is need for simple mechanisms by which proteins can be encoded and expressed inside synthetic compartments yet still be externally displayed. Here we present a genetically encodable membrane functionalization system based on mutants of pore-forming proteins. We modify the membrane translocating loop of α-hemolysin to translocate functional peptides up to 52 amino acids across lipid membranes. Full membrane translocation occurs in the absence of any translocase machinery and the translocated peptides are recognized by specific peptide-binding ligands on the opposing membrane side. Engineered hemolysins can be used for genetically programming artificial cells to display interacting peptide pairs, enabling their assembly into artificial tissue-like structures.

Research Advances of Cellular Nanoparticles as Multiplex Countermeasures.

Cellular nanoparticles (CNPs), fabricated by coating natural cell membranes onto nanoparticle cores, have been widely used to replicate cellular functions for various therapeutic applications. Specifically, CNPs act as cell decoys, binding harmful molecules or infectious pathogens and neutralizing their bioactivity. This neutralization strategy leverages the target's functional properties rather than its structure, resulting in broad-spectrum efficacy. Since their inception, CNP platforms have undergone significant advancements to enhance their neutralizing capabilities and efficiency. This review traces the research advances of CNP technology as multiplex countermeasures across four categories with progressive functions: neutralization through cell membrane binding, simultaneous neutralization using both cell membrane and nanoparticle core, continuous neutralization via enzymatic degradation, and enhanced neutralization through membrane modification. The review highlights the structure-property relationship in CNP designs, showing the functional advances of each category of CNP. By providing an overview of CNPs in multiplex neutralization of a wide range of chemical and biological threat agents, this article aims to inspire the development of more advanced CNP nanoformulations and uncover innovative applications to address unresolved medical challenges.

Zwitterion Modification in Desalination Membrane for Rejecting Salt and Salt Ions in Brackish Water – A Mini Review

ABSTRACTDesalination membrane using zwitterion modification provides a significant opportunity to enhance excellent properties for rejecting salt and salt ions. The outstanding properties are designed by positive and negative charges attached to the membrane surface, including water permeability, salt permeability, fouling, and hydrophilicity of the membrane surface. The hydrophilic membrane, which is mentioned as one of the types of desalination membrane, presents the ability to repel salt and salt ions and pass the water. The modification of hydrophilic membranes is also affected by several factors, including water permeability, salt permeability, fouling of membrane surfaces, crossflow velocity, transmembrane pressure, and temperature. Regarding membrane modification, zwitterion has been applied for several ranges, such as the hemodialysis process, live cell imaging, antibacterial surfaces, and wound dressing. However, using a zwitterion modification membrane for desalinating water containing salt content, including brackish water, has yet to be developed. In addition, literature reviews related to polymer membranes for brackish water desalination have never been comprehensively documented. Thus, this review article addresses the zwitterion modification for desalination membranes, which can reject salt and salt ions in brackish water. Furthermore, the mechanism of zwitterion modification for desalination membranes has been presented. Finally, the challenge of zwitterion modification for desalination membranes has been evaluated to inspire insight for future studies.

Flexible Highly Thermally Conductive PCM Film Prepared by Centrifugal Electrospinning for Wearable Thermal Management

Personal thermal management materials integrated with phase-change materials have significant potential to satisfy human thermal comfort needs and save energy through the efficient storage and utilization of thermal energy. However, conventional organic phase-change materials in a solid state suffer from rigidity, low thermal conductivity, and leakage, making their application challenging. In this work, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was chosen as the phase-change material to provide the energy storage density, polyethylene oxide (PEO) was chosen to provide the backbone structure of the three-dimensional polymer network and cross-linked with the PEG to provide flexibility, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to improve the mechanical and thermal conductivity of the material. The thermal conductivity of the composite fiber membranes was boosted by 77.1% when CNTs were added at 4 wt%. Water-resistant modification of the composite fiber membranes was successfully performed using glutaraldehyde-saturated steam. The resulting composite fiber membranes had a reasonable range of phase transition temperatures, and the CC4PCF-55 membranes had melting and freezing latent heats of 66.71 J/g and 64.74 J/g, respectively. The results of this study prove that the green CC4PCF-55 composite fiber membranes have excellent flexibility, with good thermal energy storage capacity and thermal conductivity and, therefore, high potential in the field of flexible wearable thermal management textiles.

Simple theranostics nanoagent for precision suppression of tumor growth and metastasis: A traditional fermented product having a novel functional breakthrough

Biomass-based nanoagents constitute a focal point in the clinical development of tumor nanotheranostics, characterized by their high biocompatibility, biodegradability, controllability, and sustainability. However, achieving satisfactory nanoagents with biological safety and high theranostic efficacy for clinical translation remains a significant challenge. Herein, based on the design concept of medicine food homology, we developed a simple, mass-produced theranostics nanoagent (HSAVMn@CM NA) using Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV) as the raw material, enabling second near-infrared fluorescence/photoacoustic (NIR-II FL/PA) imaging-guided photo/catalytic/chemodynamic synergistic tumor therapy. A novel strategy involving the hydrolysis of SAV (HSAV) via the hydrolysis-acidification method has been developed to enhance NIR-II FL imaging performance. The HSAVMn@CM NAs have improved tumor-targeted efficiency through biomimetic modification of tumor membranes. Guided by NIR-II FL/PA dual-modal imaging, the HSAVMn@CM NAs achieve targeted photothermal/photodynamic synergistic phototherapy. Notably, the employment of a single laser source for simultaneous photothermal/photodynamic therapy has led to an enhancement in the efficacy of phototherapy. Moreover, the HSAVMn@CM NAs effectively chelated Zn2+ ions within the tumor microenvironment, to inhibit matrix metalloproteinase 2/9 (MMP 2/9) activity, thereby synergistically suppressing primary tumor growth and metastasis. Taken together, this research provides a novel design strategy for biomass-based nanoagents with potential clinical translation in precise tumor theranostics.

Typical Heterotrophic and Autotrophic Nitrogen Removal Process Coupled with Membrane Bioreactor: Comparison of Fouling Behavior and Characterization.

There is limited research on the relationship between membrane fouling and microbial metabolites in the nitrogen removal process coupled with membrane bioreactors (MBRs). In this study, we compared anoxic-oxic (AO) and partial nitritation-anammox (PNA), which were selected as representative heterotrophic and autotrophic biological nitrogen removal-coupled MBR processes for their fouling behavior. At the same nitrogen loading rate of 100 mg/L and mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration of 4000 mg/L, PNA-MBR exhibited more severe membrane fouling compared to AO-MBR, as evidenced by monitoring changes in transmembrane pressure (TMP). In the autotrophic nitrogen removal process, without added organic carbon, the supernatant of PNA-MBR had higher concentrations of protein, polysaccharides, and low-molecular-weight humic substances, leading to a rapid flux decline. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extracted from suspended sludge and cake sludge in PNA-MBR also contributed to more severe membrane fouling than in AO-MBR. The EPS subfractions of PNA-MBR exhibited looser secondary structures in protein and stronger surface hydrophobicity, particularly in the cake sludge, which contained higher contents of humic substances with lower molecular weights. The higher abundances of Candidatus Brocadia and Chloroflexi in PNA-MBR could lead to the production of more hydrophobic organics and humic substances. Hydrophobic metabolism products as well as anammox bacteria were deposited on the hydrophobic membrane surface and formed serious fouling. Therefore, hydrophilic membrane modification is more urgently needed to mitigate membrane fouling when running PNA-MBR than AO-MBR.

Performance comparison of modified polyethersulfone membrane with graphene oxide and molybdenum disulfide for effective filtration of urban surface water

In the current water treatment scenario, membrane filtration is a crucial technology due to its ability to effectively remove pollutants, ensuring clean and safe water. However, a significant challenge to its widespread application is membrane fouling, which reduces membrane efficiency and service life. Various membrane modifications have been studied to enhance fouling resistance. In this work, the effect of adding graphene oxide (GO) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoparticles for the fabrication of mixed polyethersulfone (PES) membranes was evaluated. The modified membranes were evaluated for pollutant removal efficiency and fouling resistance using model humic acid solutions and surface water samples. The PES-GO membranes demonstrated significantly improved hydrophilicity, up to 43% reduction in protein deposition, and an average flux recovery ratio (FRR) of 63%, superior to the control PES membrane, resulting in reduced fouling and sustained high permeability. Nevertheless, although PES-MoS2 exhibited high rejection rates of dissolved organic matter and UV254, they also showed higher foulant adsorption and lower FRR, likely due to the development of a colloidal fouling when treating more complex water matrices. Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) analysis confirmed the deposition of organic foulants, with polysaccharides and proteins identified as major contributors to fouling. These findings suggest that while GO-enhanced PES membranes offer improved water treatment performance, modifications with MoS2 require careful consideration of feedwater composition. Future work should focus on optimizing nanoparticle integration and evaluating membrane effectiveness for diverse water sources.

Biomimetic Single-Atom Nanozyme for Dual Starvation-Enhanced Breast Cancer Immunotherapy.

Cold exposure (CE) therapy is an innovative and cost-efficient cancer treatment that activates brown adipose tissue to compete for glucose uptake, leading to metabolic starvation in tumors. Exploring the combined antitumor mechanisms of CE and traditional therapies (such as nanocatalysis) is exciting and promising. In this study, a platelet membrane biomimetic single-atom nanozyme (SAEs) nanodrug (PFB) carrying bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1, 2, 4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide (BPTES) is developed for use in cancer CE therapy. Owing to the platelet membrane modification, PFB can effectively target tumors. Upon entering cancer cells, the dual starvation effect induced by CE treatment and BPTES can significantly diminish intracellular glucose and ATP levels, resulting in a substantial reduction in cellular (glutathione) GSH, which can enhance the cytotoxic efficacy of reactive oxygen species generated by SAEs. This strategy not only boosts ROS production in tumors, but also strengthens immune responses, particularly by increasing memory T-cell abundance and suppressing distant tumor growth and tumor metastasis. Compared with SAEs therapy alone, this combined approach offers superior benefits for tumor immunotherapy. This study achieves a combination of CE and nanomedicines for the first time, providing new ideas for future nanomedicine combination therapy modalities.

Surface treatment optimization of mixed cellulose ester membrane by cold plasma treatment to improve apple juice clarification

This study aimed to determine the optimal conditions for the surface modification of mixed cellulose ester (MCE) microfiltration membrane by cold plasma (CP) for apple juice clarification. Response surface method using central cubic design (CCD) was employed for the optimization of the membrane surface modification process. Plasma gas type (oxygen, carbon dioxide, and air), power (10, 15, and 20 W), and exposure time (120, 180, and 240 s) were used as the factors for cold plasma surface modification. The results revealed the surface modification of the MCE membrane using air as plasma gas with plasma power and exposure time equal to 10 W and 180 s resulted in the maximum permeate flux in apple juice clarification. The results of scanning electron microscope, and atomic force microscope confirm the effect of CP treatment on the membrane surface roughness. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the incorporation of the hydroxyl group into the membrane surface due to CP treatment which affected the surface contact angle and hydrophilicity. The CP treatment of the membrane significantly affects the membrane resistances. Also, the surface modification of the MCE membrane using the CP treatment process in optimal conditions is an effective method for clarifying apple juice.

Electrolytic Conversion of Nitro Compounds into Amines in a Membrane Reactor.

Aromatic and aliphatic amines are key intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, dyes, and agrochemicals. These amines are often sourced from nitro compounds. The hydrogenation of nitro compounds into amines requires harsh reaction conditions (e.g., high pressures and high temperatures) or additives that are usually toxic. Here we demonstrate the electrochemically-driven hydrogenation of nitro compounds into amines in the hydrogenation compartment of a membrane reactor. The hydrogen is sourced from water in an adjacent electrolysis compartment separated by a hydrogen-permeable palladium membrane. Modifications of the palladium membrane with catalyst coatings enabled a wide range of commercially relevant nitro compounds to be hydrogenated into amines, without any additives, at ambient pressure and room temperature. This membrane reactor also enables nitro hydrogenation at high reagent concentrations with high functional group tolerance.

Mussel-inspired co-deposition of catechol-amine and graphene oxide (GO) modified anion exchange membranes (AEMs) for antifouling

Mussel-inspired co-deposition has many applications in surface modification of polymer membranes. Organic fouling of ion exchange membranes is one of the common issues that hinder electrodialysis treatment of industrial wastewater. In this work, anion exchange membranes were surface-modified by the mussel-inspired co-deposition of catechol-amine and graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. Results showed that co-deposition with catechol (CA) and m-phenylenediamine (MPD) as reactant monomers rapidly generated modifying layer on the AEM surface. And the addition of GO into co-deposition helped improve the homogeneity and reduce polymer particle aggregation. The synergistic effect of catechol-amine and GO nanosheets was beneficial to form uniform modifying layer with improved hydrophilicity and negative charge density of membrane surface. In eletrodialysis experiments with sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) as model foulants, GO-CA-MPD-3h modified AEM maintained high desalination rate close to that without folants, indicating good modifying antifouling performance. Mussel-inspired co-deposition of catecholamines and functional materials give new insights into membrane modificatin through a feasible and cost-effective method

Clarification of apple juice using cold plasma treated mixed cellulose esters membrane: flux modeling, membrane fouling, and juice physicochemical properties evaluation

This study aimed to clarify apple juice using unmodified and low-pressure cold plasma (gas: air, power: 10 W, and exposure time: 180 s) surface-modified mixed cellulose esters (MCE) microfiltration membranes. The effect of feed pressure (20, 40, and 60 kPa), feed flow rate (10, 15, and 20 mL/s), and feed temperature (27 and 40°C) on the permeate flux was evaluated using response surface methodology (RSM). The binary interaction of feed pressure and temperature and the second-order (non-linear) interaction of feed pressure and flow rate had a significant effect on the permeate flux (P<0.05). Generally, the process at 60 kPa, 15 mL/s, and 40 °C resulted in the maximum permeate flux. The cold plasma surface modification of the MCE membrane increased the permeate flux by about 45% at the optimum process conditions. Evaluation of membrane fouling showed that the cake formation was the predominant membrane fouling mechanism during both membrane processing. The physicochemical properties evaluation revealed that the surface-modified membrane produced clarified apple juice with antioxidant activity, reducing sugars, total sugars, phenolic, and vitamin C contents about 18.87%, 12.9%, 15.49%, 24.53%, and 45.15% more than clarified apple juice produced with unmodified MCE membrane, respectively.

Tailoring the PVDF membrane surface with polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene brush via in-situ grafting for enhanced oil/water emulsion separation

Membrane technology has been widely applied in oil-water separation owing to low energy consumption and high separation efficiency, but membrane fouling is a fatal factor affecting membrane performance and service life. Inspired by polyether nonionic detergents, a liquid surfactant polymer with polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene (PPO-PEO) segments was tailored to the surface of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane via in-situ grafting to improve its antifouling and oil-water separation properties. Firstly, in order to activate the inert surface of the PVDF membrane, poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMA) was blended with PVDF to prepare the MA@PVDF as membrane substrate. Then, PPO-PEO brushes were grafted onto the surface of the substrate by an alcoholysis reaction to fabricate the PPO-PEO@PVDF membrane. The chemical structure and the surface morphology of the PPO-PEO tailored PVDF membrane surface were characterized, and the separation performance for oil/water emulsion was explored. The results show that the optimized grafting amount of PPO-PEO on the PVDF membrane is up to 476.2±3.0mg·g-1, and the pure water flux of the corresponding PPO-PEO@PVDF membrane is 191.3±4.0L·m-2·h-1, which is more than 20 times higher than that of the control PVDF membrane (around 7L·m-2·h-1). The water wetted PPO-PEO brushes on the surface of the PVDF membrane can hinder the adhesion of oily substances, and the separation efficiency of the PPO-PEO@PVDF membrane for kerosene/water emulsion reaches 91.7±0.6%, which is much higher than that of the MA@PVDF membrane without PPO-PEO brushes. The PPO-PEO tailored PVDF membrane provides useful strategies for the surface modification of membranes with enhanced performances of antifouling and oil-water separation.

Innovative Trends in Modified Membranes: A Mini Review of Applications and Challenges in the Food Sector.

Membrane technologies play a pivotal role in various industrial sectors, including food processing. Membranes act as barriers, selectively allowing the passage of one or other types of species. The separation processes that involve them offer advantages such as continuity, energy efficiency, compactness of devices, operational simplicity, and minimal consumption of chemical reagents. The efficiency of membrane separation depends on various factors, such as morphology, composition, and process parameters. Fouling, a significant limitation in membrane processes, leads to a decline in performance over time. Anti-fouling strategies involve adjustments to process parameters or direct modifications to the membrane, aiming to enhance efficiency. Recent research has focused on mitigating fouling, particularly in the food industry, where complex organic streams pose challenges. Membrane processes address consumer demands for natural and healthy products, contributing to new formulations with antioxidant properties. These trends align with environmental concerns, emphasizing sustainable practices. Despite numerous works on membrane modification, a research gap exists, especially with regard to the application of modified membranes in the food industry. This review aims to systematize information on modified membranes, providing insights into their practical application. This comprehensive overview covers membrane modification methods, fouling mechanisms, and distinct applications in the food sector. This study highlights the potential of modified membranes for specific tasks in the food industry and encourages further research in this promising field.

Multienzyme Immobilization on PVDF Membrane via One-Step Mussel-Inspired Method: Enhancing Fouling Resistance and Self-Cleaning Efficiency.

Immobilizing different enzymes on membranes can result in biocatalytic active membranes with a self-cleaning capacity toward a complex mixture of foulants. The membrane modification can reduce fouling and enhance filtration performance. Protease, lipase, and amylase were immobilized on poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) microfiltration membranes using a polydopamine coating in a one-step method. The concentrations of polydopamine precursor and enzymes were optimized during the immobilization. The higher hydrolytic activities were obtained using 0.2 mg/mL of dopamine hydrochloride and 4 mg/mL of enzymes: 0.90 mgstarch/min·cm2 for amylase, 10.16 nmoltyrosine/min·cm2 for protease, and 20.48 µmolp-nitrophenol/min·cm2 for lipase. Filtration tests using a protein, lipid, and carbohydrate mixture showed that the modified membrane retained 41%, 29%, and 28% of its initial water permeance (1808 ± 39 L/m2·h·bar) after three consecutive filtration cycles, respectively. In contrast, the pristine membrane (initial water permeance of 2016 ± 40 L/m2·h·bar) retained only 23%, 12%, and 8%. Filtrations of milk powder solution were also performed to simulate dairy industry wastewater: the modified membrane maintained 28%, 26%, and 26% of its initial water permeance after three consecutive filtration cycles, respectively, and the pristine membrane retained 34%, 21%, and 7%. The modified membrane showed increased fouling resistance against a mixture of foulants and presented a similar water permeance after three cycles of simulated dairy wastewater filtration. Membrane fouling is reduced by the immobilized enzymes through two mechanisms: increased membrane hydrophilicity (evidenced by the reduced water contact angle after modification) and the enzymatic hydrolysis of foulants as they accumulate on the membrane surface.

Hydrophilic and antimicrobial properties of hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan/graphene oxide membrane for dye rejection

Graphene oxide (GO) -based membranes have attracted attention in dye wastewater treatment in recent years. However, water permeance and methyl orange (MO) rejection need improvement. In this work, a simple method was used to incorporate hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HTCC) to enhance the charge of the membrane. An optimized HTCC-GO composite membrane (HGM membrane) containing a 2: 1 ratio of HTCC to GO membrane significantly improved MO rejection (96.94 %), and achieved high rejection of the other three dye molecules studied in this work (>93 %), and also realized a two-fold higher water permeance (28.09 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) compared to a pure GO membrane. Furthermore, the hydrophilic and antimicrobial properties of HGM membranes are enhanced as a result of quaternary ammonium groups in HTCC. Moreover, the acid-base stability of HGM membranes was also improved in comparison to the original GO membrane. This work provides a reference for the modification of GO-based membranes and their application in the direction of practical treatment of dye wastewater.