Water Purification Treatment Research Articles

A short review on polysaccharide-based nanocomposite adsorbents for separation and biomedical applications.

Polysaccharides such as chitosan, alginate, cellulose, and carrageenan have emerged as promising adsorbents due to their biodegradability, abundant availability, and diverse chemical functionality. These biopolymers exhibit promising performance for adsorption of a wide range of pollutants including heavy metals (e.g., lead, cadmium), organic dyes (e.g., methylene blue, methyl orange), and even pathogenic microorganisms. However, inherent hydrophilicity and poor mechanical properties limit their broader application in environmental and biomedical fields. As an effective way to address the issues, recent advancements have focused on the incorporation of nanoparticles (e.g., metal oxides, carbon nanotubes and clays) into polysaccharides to obtain nanocomposite films. Generally, these nanocomposites offer enhanced surface area, tunable porous network, and improved chemical and mechanical resistances for adsorption and biomedical applications. The current review gives a focused overview of the recent progresses in polysaccharide-based nanocomposites, with particular attention to their fabrication methods, adsorption capacity and mechanism, and diverse applications in water purification, drug delivery, and antimicrobial treatments. Critical challenges such as the optimization of nanoparticle dispersion and the environmental impacts of nanocomposite biodegradation are also discussed to pave the road for the future research in this promising field.

Use of Modified Activated Carbon in Groundwater Remediation for Human Consumption

This study aimed to produce activated carbon from desilicated rice husks using various carbonization and activation methods, including a tube furnace, muffle furnace, and artisanal pyrolysis. The resulting activated carbons were characterized for their adsorptive capacity through the determination of iodine number and methylene blue adsorption; these are key indicators of specific surface area and adsorbent quality. Advanced characterization techniques were employed, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which revealed a highly porous and irregular surface structure, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), confirming the effective removal of impurities and optimization of the elemental composition. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrated favorable surface roughness for adsorption processes. Among the samples, CaDH162-CADH53 exhibited the highest performance, with an iodine number of 1094.8 mg/g and a yield of 93.5%, signifying a high adsorption capacity. The activation treatments with phosphoric acid and calcium carbonate significantly improved the porous structure, further enhancing the material’s adsorptive properties. In conclusion, the activated carbons produced in this study demonstrated optimal physicochemical properties for water purification and contaminant treatment applications. These findings highlight the potential of using agricultural waste, such as rice husk, as a sustainable and scalable alternative for industrial-scale activated carbon production.

Advances on Tungsten Trioxide Based Additive Materials: Strategies to Fabricate Photocatalytic Membranes for Wastewater Treatment

Due to their ability to combine the physical separation of membrane filtration with organic degradation in one unit, photocatalytic membranes have demonstrated enormous potential for application in energy-efficient water purification and wastewater treatment. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the substance most frequently utilized to create photocatalytic membranes. However, TiO2's use is constrained by its substantial band gap (3.2 eV). On the other hand, tungsten trioxide (WO3) has a fairly small band gap (2.7-2.8 eV) which makes it able to absorb visible light, making the photocatalytic process more efficient. This article examines recent developments in WO3 photocatalytic membranes for wastewater treatment and water purification with a focus on the photocatalytic mechanism, photocatalytic membrane fabrication and development. The mechanism of WO3 semiconductor in pollutant removal is explained in detail. Blending, coating and grafting methods, which are three methods commonly used when fabricating photocatalytic membranes, are discussed. Likewise with the development of WO3 photocatalytic membranes using pure WO3, heterojunction or doping with metal.

Concise Review of Light-Driven Micromotor Synthesis and its Environmental Applications

Light-powered micromotors are a new type of micromotor that can be used for water purification treatment. This paper focuses on the synthesis processes and its application in water remediation. This mini review will highlight the great potential of these light powered micromotor as well as the significance of preparing them for environmental applications. Photocatalytic micromotors or light-powered micromotors have been intensively researched over the last several years for several applications, such as environmental remediation, biomedicine and micropumps. It has been found that conventional wastewater treatment is commercially inefficient in water remediation. The emphasis then was on a new solution of using micromotor as a potential replacement for water remediation. Many studies have been carried out over the years on the synthesis of these light-powered micromotors, which revolves around the materials used, and applications. This paper, therefore, reflects on the advancement of light-powered micromotors and will be concentrating on the synthesis processes and its application in water remediation. This mini-review will highlight the great potential of these light-driven micromotors as well as the significance of preparing them for environmental applications.

STUDY OF THE MICROBIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF IRRADIATED SAMPLES AT HOVSAN COASTAL AREA OF THE CASPIAN SEA

Biological organisms can threaten water quality and cause waterborne diseases. Because testing for each pathogenic organism is very expensive and time consuming, coliform bacteria and E. coli from environmental and animal sources serve as good pathogen indicator organisms. This study focused on the evaluation of water quality in microbiologically purified waste from the tap and Hovsan coastal areas of the Caspian Sea via gamma-ray monitoring. Radiation technology allows for the possibility of combined water purification, including chemical and biological treatment; therefore, this technology is more suitable for water disposal. Before irradiation, the concentrations of total microbes (at 22°C and 37°C), E. coli, heterotrophic bacteria and total coliform bacteria were monitored. The samples were then irradiated with different doses of gamma radiation. In this context, the application of gamma radiation for the microbiological treatment of wastewater, domestic tap water and water from the Hovsan coastal area of the Caspian Sea, which can be applied to minimize the effect on the human body, was investigated.

(Invited) Integration of Electrochemical Oxidation and Photocatalytic Degradation for Water Purification and Wastewater Treatment

The contamination of water with a myriad of pollutants has become an increasingly global issue in recent decades due to the widespread expansion of industrialization, which has tremendously propagated the development of large-scale industries and increased metallurgic production. Water contamination is anticipated to increase at least two-fold over the next 20 years. In this talk, a new design of an integrated electrode is introduced for the photo-electrochemical purification of water from a wastewater treatment plant. A nanoporous TiO2 structure, directly grown on a Ti substrate by anodization, and a RuO2-IrO2-based electrode was utilized as the photocatalyst and the electrocatalyst, respectively. Photocatalytic and electrocatalytic activities were synergistically combined to achieve an integrated and highly catalytically active electrode. Our experimental results have shown that the efficient enablement of photocatalytic and electrocatalytic activities within a single integrated electrode may be achieved via the new design. The applicability of this integrated electrode system was also tested in a pilot plant at a local water treatment facility. The pilot plant testing results revealed that much more efficient removal of organic waste was accomplished using the integrated electrode system as compared to only photocatalyst or electrocatalyst. The synergistic effect of the integrated bi-functional electrodes will be discussed.

Hygienic regulation of harmful chemicals in water – a view through the prism of research by the A.N. Sysin Research Institute

The article is devoted to the history of hygienic regulation of harmful chemicals in water at the A.N. Sysin Research Institute, spanning several decades. The article details the stages of the development of the methodology for hygienic regulation of chemicals in water, starting from the first regulatory documents developed under the guidance of A.N. Sysin in the 1940s to an improved methodology that includes accelerated and in-depth toxicological experiments. The developed step-by-step regulation scheme for chemicals in water combines the experimental method of substantiating maximum allowable concentrations (MACs) based on organoleptic and general sanitary indicators of harmfulness with techniques that allow reducing the duration of toxicological studies where it is possible without loss of quality of the results. There are considered modern approaches to predicting the toxicity of substances and their biotransformation, including the use of data mining methods and quantum chemistry. Special attention is given to studying the issues of ensuring safe water use conditions for the population, the application of new chemical compounds in various industries, as well as the effectiveness and safety of reagents and technologies used in water purification and water treatment processes, including improving criteria and methods for studying the combined effects of substances. The results of studies on the transformation processes of substances under the action of various disinfecting agents are presented. Many years of research by the Institute’s staff are reflected in the Methodological Guidelines for substantiating hygienic standards for chemicals in the water of household and drinking water bodies and recreational water use, Methodological Guidelines for assessing the safety of materials, reagents, and equipment used for water purification and treatment, and the development of hygienic standards for the content of chemicals in water. On this basis, modern main documents on the regulation of chemicals in the environment have been created.

Fabrication and characterization of antibacterial nanofiber membranes modified with chitosan and imidazolidinyl urea for potential use in biological waste treatments

An ion exchange nanofiber membrane (AEA-COOH) was developed from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers through chemical hydrolysis. It was further modified by grafting chitosan (CS) onto its surface, creating the AEA-COOH-CS membrane. Then, both membranes were covalently immobilized with imidazolidinyl urea (IU), resulting in AEA-COOH-IU and AEA-COOH-CS-IU membranes. This study analyzed their physical properties, antibacterial efficacy (AE), and reusability. Optimal conditions were identified: 50 kDa molecular weight of chitosan, pH 8 for IU modification, and 0.05 % IU concentration. The AEA-COOH-IU membrane achieved 96.15 % AE against Escherichia coli at an initial concentration of 2.0 × 107 CFU/mL, while the AEA-COOH-CS-IU membrane achieved 100 % AE. The AEA-COOH-CS-IU membrane maintained 95.04 % efficacy over 5 cycles, demonstrating superior durability. As a result, the AEA-COOH-CS-IU membrane has high potential for environmental applications such as water purification and wastewater treatment. Its robust antibacterial properties and reusability suggest a significant impact on ensuring cleaner water resources and prospective uses in the biomedical field, including medical device coatings and healthcare applications.

Assessment of the effectiveness of atmospheric plasma on the removal of selected pharmaceuticals from water

Plasma, next to solids, liquids and gases, is considered the fourth state of matter, occurring in the ground state or in the excited state, having a neutral charge. Its scope of application is wide and constantly expanding. The conducted research aimed to determine the impact of atmospheric plasma for removing selected pharmaceuticals: diclofenac (DFC), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), trimethoprim (TMP), carbamazepine (CBZ) and caffeine (CAF) from water on a laboratory scale. The concentration of the tested pharmaceuticals was 20 mg/L. The analyzed samples were exposed to a continuous stream of cold plasma. The contact time of the sample with the plasma stream ranged from seconds to minutes - depending on the tested pharmaceutical. By examining the degree of reduction of selected pharmaceutical substances before and after the atmospheric plasma treatment process, the samples were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The removal efficiency of individual pharmaceuticals reached up to 98 %. The conducted research confirms the great application potential of using atmospheric plasma as a tool for the elimination of individual pharmaceutical compounds. Cold plasma can be used as a potential tool in water purification and wastewater treatment. Based on the effects of free radical oxidation, UV radiation and pyrolysis, we can eliminate dangerous micropollutants in a more economical and effective way.

Synergistic photocatalytic-photothermal contribution induced by Pd-TiO2/PEDOT immobilized in PVDF membrane for enhanced water purification

The photocatalytic membrane systems show great potential for water purification and wastewater treatment with efficient energy utilization. Herein, we develop a synergistic photocatalytic-photothermal route, based on Pd-TiO2/PEDOT composite immobilized in PVDF membrane, for effective water permeability and reutilization property. Novel Pd-TiO2/PEDOT/PVDF ultrafiltration membrane is prepared by the phase inversion method with immobilizing Pd-TiO2/PEDOT obtained by ultrasonic irradiation. During the removal of HA under light irradiation, Pd-TiO2/PEDOT/PVDF membrane presents an unexpected increasing in water flux, when compared to pristine PVDF, Pd-TiO2/PVDF and PEDOT/PVDF membranes, with the highest normalized flux reaches up to 2.1 and remains as 1.3 even after 300 min of irradiation. This significantly enhances the water transport, along with the achieved high rejection and anti-fouling performance. It can be attributed to synergistic photocatalytic-photothermal effect of Pd-TiO2/PEDOT, which is realized by their strong interaction and uniform distribution. The addition of PEDOT promotes photocatalytic effect of Pd-TiO2 by enhancing separation of photo-induced charges. High photothermal conversion efficiency of Pd-TiO2/PEDOT and low temperature difference in Pd-TiO2/PEDOT/PVDF membrane facilitate effective thermal storage, beneficial for water transport. Meanwhile, thermal energy promotes generation of more ∙OH and ∙O2– radicals to remove pollutants. Synergistic photocatalytic-photothermal contribution in Pd-TiO2/PEDOT/PVDF membrane shows significant potential for practical application.

STUDY OF ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF A TiO2-SiO2-Ag COMPOSITE FILTER ON A GLASS FABRIC BASE

Composite films based on catalytically active forms of titanium dioxide synthesized on the fibrous structure of glass fabric are a promising solution for the creation of antibacterial filters for photocatalytic oxidation of microorganism cells under the influence of light radiation of the visible region of the spectrum. The filter obtained in the present work is a multilayer TiO2-SiO2-Ag composite film bonded to fibres of glass fibre carrier. This material has photocatalytic activity due to the presence of titanium dioxide in the anatase phase, which under the influence of light radiation is able to decompose organic compounds and microorganisms sorbed on the filter surface. Special attention was paid to thermal analysis, as a result of which the optimal mode of step-by-step heat treatment of materials was determined to obtain the required phase composition. The selected heat treatment regime allowed to increase the crystallinity of the anatase phase of TiO2, which significantly affected its optical characteristics such as refractive index and forbidden band width energy. The antimicrobial effect of TiO2-SiO2-Ag/glass material tested as a filter in the air purification process was demonstrated in this work. After applying this material as a filter, it was possible significantly reduce the number of E. coli colonies detected in the filter washes, reaching a level of 125 CFU m-3. This indicates the high oxidative capacity of the filter in relation to microorganisms and confirms its potential for use in the field of photocatalytic air purification. The authors note the possibility of application of the developed material in the field of water purification and surface treatment, which determines the prospects for further research. For citation: Buzaev A.A., Tkachuk V.A., Lyutova E.S., Borilo L.P. Study of antibacterial properties of A TiO2-SiO2-Ag composite filter on a glass fabric base. ChemChemTech [Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved. Khim. Khim. Tekhnol.]. 2024. V. 67. N 7. P. 63-71. DOI: 10.6060/ivkkt.20246707.7001.

Green Fabrication of Superhydrophilic/Underwater Superoleophobic Composite Membrane for High-Efficiency Oil/Water Separation in Harsh Environments.

Due to the high oil spill incidence and industrial wastewater discharge including oil and emulsified oil, designing and synthesizing oil-water separation materials which can maintain stability under harsh environmental conditions with high separation efficiencies remains a great challenge. The present work developed an easy, green, cost-effective, and easily scaled-up approach for fabricating cellulose-based membranes. First, we coated polydopamine (PDA) onto fibers of filter membrane (FM). Then, the PDA-FM membrane was immersed into the mixed solution of poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid) (PVA/PAA) and further thermally cross-linked at 150 °C to create a superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic membrane (PVA/PAA@PDA-FM) to separate oil/water mixtures. The simple thermally cross-linking process promotes multiple covalent chemical bonds generation between cellulose filter membrane, PAA, PDA, and PVA, endowing membranes with excellent stability and resistance to acidity, alkalinity, and salinity. The PVA/PAA@PDA-FM membrane not only demonstrates great separation performance (>99.8%) and great flux (>1000 L m-2 h-1) in oil-water immiscible mixtures but also maintains high separation efficiency under conditions of high acidity, alkalinity, and salinity. Additionally, the PVA/PAA@PDA-FM membrane exhibits excellent separation capacity in oil-water emulsions, which can maintain the >99.6% separation efficiency even after 40 cycles in harsh environments, showing outstanding reusability. Thus, due to the multiple cross-linked networks in the membrane, the excellent performance makes the PVA/PAA@PDA-FM membrane a good application prospect in water purification and oily wastewater treatment.

A novel starch‐based composite hydrogel enhanced by activated charcoal from the banana peel for water decontamination

AbstractThe efficient removal of potential toxic elements (PTEs) from aqueous systems is an important challenge in water purification and industrial effluent treatment. Starch‐based hydrogels have shown promise in this context due to their unique properties, such as high absorption capacity and water retention. This work synthesized a novel hydrogel with and without activated charcoal (AC) from banana peel (5 wt.%) and trisodium citrate as a crosslinking agent and starch to remove PTEs. These hydrogels were characterized by Fourier‐transformed infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy, TGA, XRD, water absorption, and zero‐charge point techniques. Subsequently, the affinity of AC, neat hydrogel, and the composite hydrogel for removing Cr6+, Cd2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+ in aqueous solution was evaluated. FTIR confirmed a crosslinking reaction between the starch molecules and the crosslinking agent (trisodium citrate). Besides, the addition of hydrogel+5%AC altered the crosslinking process. Adding AC to the hydrogel composite increased crystallinity, thermal stability, and porous size. The highest removal efficiency of neat hydrogel and hydrogel+5%AC was for Cr6+, obtaining 83.2% and 98.5%, respectively. As for the AC, the removal of Cu2+ was satisfactory, with 80.4%. Thus, hydrogel+5%AC proves to be a highly viable adsorbent for posttreatment of wastewater due to its ability to efficiently remove PTEs.

Polyethersulfone-silica aerogel/ polypyrrole solar evaporation membrane for wastewater treatment and desalination

Solar interfacial evaporation utilizes a specific structure of the evaporator to confine the energy to the light absorbing layer, so that the water completes efficient evaporation on the surface of the structure. In this paper, polyethersulfone- silica aerogel/ polypyrrole solar evaporation membranes (PES-SiO2/PPy) with excellent photo-thermal conversion and efficient seawater desalination performance were prepared by loading PPy on polyethersulfone-silica aerogel ultrafiltration membranes (PES-SiO2) via in situ polymerization. With its stable and efficient thermal insulation performance and heat absorption ability, the temperature on the surface of the evaporation membrane was as high as 49.9 °C under 1 kW m−2 light intensity, and the maximum evaporation rate reached 1.86 kg m−2 h−1, with an evaporation efficiency of 97%. The evaporation membranes also have long-term stable evaporation performance. At an outdoor light intensity of 0.8 kW m−2, the evaporation rate of simulated seawater reached 1.87 kg m−2 h−1 with a high evaporation efficiency of 131.6%, which can be realized for highly efficient desalination and dye-containing wastewater treatment with the aid of ambient energy. The present work demonstrates the efficient solar evaporation performance of ultra-low-cost evaporation membranes with the prospect of large-scale water purification treatment.

Mesoporous silica-grafted deep eutectic solvent-based mixed matrix membranes for wastewater treatment: Synthesis and emerging pollutant removal performance

Abstract Nano-enhanced membrane technology and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have demonstrated effectiveness in addressing emerging environmental pollutants. This research centers on purifying water by removing heavy metals employing membranes enhanced with mesoporous silica and DES. Various DESs, including hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, and decanoic acid, were synthesized using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) as a base. The study combined a polysulfone-based membrane with mesoporous silica, aiming for efficient indigenous crafting to remove heavy metals. Mesoporous silica was blended with the synthesized DES solution, creating diverse membranes for heavy metal separation. The study characterized these membranes using various techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. Surface mapping confirmed the integration of silicon-based DES, reducing the membrane surface roughness from 4 to 1.4 nm. By adjusting the carboxylic acid chain length with TBABr and adding mesoporous silica, leaching ratios were reduced from 4.2 to 2.3%. Silica-grafted DES-based membranes exhibited a progressive increase in flux from 2.6 to 26.67 L/m2 h. The synthesized silicon-based membranes demonstrated outstanding performance, achieving rejection rates exceeding 80% for chromium and arsenic, maintaining an impressive 90% flux recovery ratio even at high flux rates. This study will envision the potential of nano-enhanced membrane technology utilizing DES for sustainable water purification and wastewater treatment applications to achieve the sustainable development goal (SDG) of clean water and sanitation (SDG-6).

Biomimetic ZrO2-modified seaweed residue with excellent fluorine/ bacteria removal and uranium extraction properties for wastewater purification

Exploring and developing promising biomass composite membranes for the water purification and waste resource utilization is of great significance. The modification of biomass has always been a focus of research in its resource utilization. In this study, we successfully prepare a functional composite membrane, activated graphene oxide/seaweed residue-zirconium dioxide (GOSRZ), with fluoride removal, uranium extraction, and antibacterial activity by biomimetic mineralization of zirconium dioxide nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs) on seaweed residue (SR) grafted with oxidized graphene (GO). The GOSRZ membrane exhibits highly efficient and specific adsorption of fluoride. For the fluoride concentrations in the range of 100–400 mg/L in water, the removal efficiency can reach over 99 %, even in the presence of interfering ions. Satisfactory extraction rates are also achieved for uranium by the GOSRZ membrane. Additionally, the antibacterial performance studies show that this composite membrane efficiently removes Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The high adsorption of F− and U(VI) to the composite membrane is ascribed to the ionic exchange and coordination interactions, and its antibacterial activity is caused by the destruction of bacterial cell structure. The sustainability of the biomass composite membranes is further evaluated using the Sustainability Footprint method. This study provides a simple preparation method of biomass composite membrane, expands the water purification treatment technology, and offers valuable guidance for the resource utilization of seaweed waste and the removal of pollutants in wastewater.

Synergistic contribution of sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) and iminodiacetic acid functionalized-graphene oxide nanosheets towards enhancing cationic dye wastewater purification using nanocomposite membranes

Water purification and wastewater treatment can be achieved using membrane technologies. However, conventional poly(ether sulfone) (PES) membranes suffer from hydrophobicity, fouling issues, and insufficient dye removal. In this study, hydrophilic sulfonated PES (sPES) and iminodiacetic acid-functionalized graphene oxide (IDA-GO) nanosheets were incorporated into the PES membranes to enhance cationic dye removal efficiency. PES/sPES membranes containing 0.05–0.2 wt% IDA-GO nanosheets were fabricated via phase inversion. PES/sPES@IDA-GO membrane and IDA-GO nanosheets were fully characterized using various analytical techniques. With a negative surface charge, the PES/sPES@IDA-GO membrane is a good candidate to remove cationic days. Compared with pristine PES membranes, hydrophilic nanosheets improve membrane porosity, hydrophilicity, and mechanical properties. Further altering the membrane structure by incorporating IDA-GO nanosheets into the PES/sPES-based casting solution increased the porosity and mean pore radius. Using PES/sPES@IDA-GO membrane containing IDA-GO nanosheets as low as 0.1 wt%, values of 99.9 % 19.4 L/m2.h were achieved for dye rejection and pure water flux, respectively. Tuning membrane properties using sPES and IDA-GO nanosheets enabled exceptional cationic dye removal. This offers a facile approach to engineering high-performance PES membranes for effective wastewater purification and environmental remediation applications.

A Study on the Water Quality Characteristics for Water Purification Treatment in the Lower Reaches of Yeongsan River in preparation for Extreme Drought

A Study on the Water Quality Characteristics for Water Purification Treatment in the Lower Reaches of Yeongsan River in preparation for Extreme Drought

Fabrication of activated carbon from Acacia Crassicarpa bark by carbothermal functionalization for adsorptive removal the dyes in aqueous solution

Activated carbon adsorbent prepared from Acacia Crassicarpa bark has been successfully synthesized via carbonization and chemical activation processes to investigate the elimination of hazardous dyes in industrial wastewater, specifically the anionic dye methyl orange (MO) and the cationic dye methylene blue (MB) in this study. The Acacia Crassicarpa bark was washed with distilled water and dried it in an electric oven at 100 °C. The carbonization process was carried out at a temperature of 1050 °C in the Argon atmosphere and thoroughly was activated by NaOH. The results showed that a high BET surface area of 711.05 m2/g was obtained. XRD pattern presented that the high content of crystalline carbon was formed and carbon content was achieved approximately 83%. Also, SEM images illustrated the average size of carbon is 2.58 μm and surface structure of activated carbon appeared the pores inside the particle. The Langmuir was observed to fit the adsorption data well. The maximum equilibrium adsorption capacities predicted by the Langmuir isotherm were found to be 156.25 mg/g and 144.09 mg/g for MO and MB, respectively. All of those results confirm that the activated carbon originated from Acacia Crassicarpa bark can potentially be applied for water purification treatment. In comparison to traditional charcoal, this activated carbon presents numerous advantages. Notably, it can integrate into the biomass energy cycle, improve filtration capabilities, and result in cost savings.

Making waves: Magneto-responsive membranes with special and switchable wettability: new opportunities for membrane distillation

Membrane distillation (MD) has promising potential in the water purification and wastewater treatment industries; however, fouling and wetting are the main obstacles to its commercialization, and higher fluxes and energy efficiencies are essential. Magneto-responsive membranes (MagMem) with integrated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) enable in situ fouling mitigation and switchable separation by nano-mixing or nano-heating, triggered by external magnetic fields, in a range of membrane processes, but not yet been demonstrated in MD. This perspective discussed the potential paths of MagMem utilization in MD based on the research status and dilemmas of MD. It can be envisioned that MagMem will lead to a paradigm shift in MD, especially by in situ fouling/wetting mitigation and enhancing energy efficiency via in-place actuation and localized heating by MNPs. Moreover, remotely controllable pore tuning and specific or switchable wettability can also be anticipated. Overall, MagMem provides attractive opportunities for advanced robust and efficient MD.