Water Transport Pathways Research Articles

Constructing multi-path channels in graphene oxide-based membrane for high-efficiency oil/water separation

Graphene oxide (GO) membranes have demonstrated significant potential for effective wastewater treatment; however, their tortuous and irregular water transport pathways through stacked nanosheets pose considerable challenges. In this study, we present a novel approach for fabricating faveolate-structured graphene oxide nanomesh (GONM) membranes, enhanced by the in situ growth of Co(OH)2 nanosheets to facilitate oil–water separation. The incorporation of in-plane pathways through the porous GONM, alongside the enlargement of interlayer pathways from Co(OH)2 growth, significantly improves water permeance. The nanopores present in the holey GONM reduce diffusion pathways, while intercalation of Co(OH)2 nanosheets increases channel sizes and stabilizes the GONM structure. By manipulating the mass ratio between GONM and cobalt salt, we optimized the membrane, achieving an exceptional water permeance of 224.2 L m-2h−1 bar−1, surpassing GO membranes. Additionally, the resultant membranes exhibit remarkable underwater anti-oil adhesion performance and efficient separation capabilities for a wide variety of oil-in-water emulsions, with separation efficiencies exceeding 99.1 %. This work provides valuable insights into the intentional manipulation of surface topography and hierarchical nanochannels in membrane materials, paving the way for high-efficiency water treatment solutions.

In-situ confined preparation of COF@GO nanofiltration membranes for high-efficiency dye removal

Graphene oxide membrane (GOM) possesses ultrafast and tunable two-dimensional water transport pathways, making it an ideal candidate for nanofiltration separation of dye wastewater. However, GOM also faces great challenges such as poor aqueous stability, collapse of non-oxygenated regions under high pressure, and limitations imposed by trade-off effects. In this study, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) were in-situ formed within GOM interlayers and on membrane surface to enlarge interlayer spacings and enhance hydrophilicity of GOM simultaneously via a two-step method including monomer retention in GOM and in-situ confined interfacial polymerization of COFs. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) results confirmed the successful synthesis of COF on GOM surface, which enhanced membrane surface hydrophilicity and bridged the split defects of GOM. According to X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) results, COF@GO membranes possessed enlarged interlayer spacings and increased thickness of selective layer, which indicated the successful intercalation of COF into GO interlayer. COF@GO-50 membrane exhibited an ultrahigh pure water permeability (PWP) of 148.1 L/(m2·h·bar), with 99.0 % rejection for direct red 80 (DR80) aqueous solution and 9.6 % NaCl rejection. The ultrahigh water permeance might be ascribed to the enlarged interlayer pathways, the shortened vertical pathways provided by in-plane pores of COF nanosheets, and enhanced water adsorption capacity due to enhanced membrane hydrophilicity. Moreover, COF@GO nanofiltration membrane demonstrated excellent anti-fouling properties and long-term stability in 30h continuous operation, maintaining considerable separation efficiency under harsh conditions. This work provides a straightforward and applicable strategy to simultaneously enlarge interlayer spacings and enhance surface hydrophilicity of GOM via in-situ confined preparation of COFs, achieving ultrahigh water permeance and overcoming the trade-off effect between permeability and selectivity of GOM.

Dehydration-modulated pomelo peel cellulose nanofiber interlayer customized polyamide membrane with highly uniform pores for efficient nanofiltration

The development of high-performance polyamide nanofiltration (PA NF) membranes by introducing interlayers holds promise for efficient desalination. In this study, a novel PA NF membrane was prepared by incorporating the special biomass interlayer, which consisted of dehydration-modulated pomelo peel cellulose nanofiber (PCNF). Due to the removal of water, the proportion of exposed oxygen-containing functional groups within the PCNF interlayer increased significantly, and thus the diffusion of piperazine (PIP) could be slowed down effectively. Consequently, the diffusion-restricted PIP was enriched and anchored by PCNF and formed a PA layer with a unique layered structure in the interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction. The surface PA layer with lower a cross-linking degree could optimize water transport pathways and improve membrane permeability (28.67 LMH/bar). Meanwhile, the bottom PA layer, which was closely interspersed with PCNF, reduced pore size of the membrane and enhanced the rejection of Na2SO4 (98.63%). This study reveals a low-cost and eco-friendly strategy for preparing effective biomass interlayers, which provides a feasible approach for designing high-performance NF membranes.

Synergistic optimization of the water state and transport pathway in hydrogels via pullulan and directional Freezing-Assisted salting out for efficient evaporation

Improving the evaporation efficiency of solar-driven hydrogel evaporators is crucial for addressing water scarcity. Traditional efforts have been focused on increasing the intermediate water content or shortening the evaporation route through hydrogel structure design. However, rare attempts have been made to combine these two approaches. Here, we report the simultaneous achievement of high intermediate water content and short water transport paths in a hydrogel for efficient solar-driven evaporation. By introducing pullulan and MXene nanosheets into a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) system that is subjected to directional freezing-assisted salting-out, we achieve a considerably high intermediate water to free water ratio of 2.11. Meanwhile, low- tortuosity yet compact channels within the hydrogel formed during directional freezing-assisted salting-out accelerate water transport during evaporation. Consequently, the hydrogel evaporator achieves an energy conversion efficiency of 93 % under one sun illumination, with a high vapor generation rate of 3.92kg m−2h−1. Even in highly saline water, an evaporation rate of 2.93 kg m−2h−1 is preserved, accompanied by voltage generation through water-driven ion migration. Moreover, the hydrogel evaporator can be recycled by heating using the remoulade properties of PVA without deteriorating the evaporation rate, holding great potential in sustainable and recyclable water collection.

Deep inflow transport and dispersion in the Gulf of St. Lawrence revealed by a tracer release experiment

The Gulf of St. Lawrence is increasingly affected by bottom water hypoxia; however, the timescales and pathways of deep water transport remain unclear. Here, we present results from the Deep Tracer Release eXperiment (TReX Deep), during which an inert SF5CF3 tracer was released inshore of Cabot Strait at 279 m depth to investigate deep inflow transport and mixing rates. Dispersion was also assessed via neutrally-buoyant Swish floats. Our findings indicate that the tracer moves inland at 0.5 cm s−1, with an effective lateral diffusivity of 2 × 102 m2 s−1 over 1 year. Simplified 1D simulations suggest inflow water should reach the estuary head in 1.7 years, with the bulk arriving after 4.7 years. Basin-wide effective vertical diffusivity is around 10−5 m2 s−1 over 1 year; however, vertical diffusivity increases near the basin slopes, suggesting that turbulent boundary processes influence mixing. These results are compared to Lagrangian simulations in a regional 3D model to evaluate the capacity to model dispersion in the Gulf.

Effects of GA3 Treatments on Fruit Vascular Structure and Water Transport of Grape

ABSTRACT Exogenous gibberellic acid was applied to regulate fruit growth of grapes to acquire high quality seedless berries. The vascular bundles provide the pathway of water and nutrient transport into the fruit and play an important role in berry growth and sugar accumulation. Therefore, changes in berry size and quality are closely related to the structure and function of the vascular tissue. In this study, 10-year-old “Shine Muscat” grape vines were treated with GA3 in grapevine production. Based on previous research and experimental environmental conditions, four treatments were applied: elongating cluster（5 mg L−1 GA3 on Apr. 28）+ seedless（25 mg L−1 GA3 on May. 24）+ expanding（50 mg L−1 GA3 on Jun. 7） (T1), seedless（25 mg L−1 GA3 on May. 24）+ expanding（50 mg L−1 GA3 on Jun. 7） (T2), expanding（50 mg L−1 GA3 on Jun. 7） (T3) and water (CK). Compared to CK, all fruits treated with GA3 had greater berry size. In addition, GA3 treated grapes had greater vascular bundle areas, including the areas of both phloem and xylem, as well as a greater number of vessels compared to control fruit. During the first rapid growth stage, water transport into the grape was rapid and did not differ among treatments. During veraison, the water transport rate among the four treatments differed, and the rank of speed was T2>T3>CK>T1. Therefore, we found that GA3 treatment can significantly promote the differentiation of vascular tissues and improve water transport capacity and phloem sugar unloading; T2 promoted the development of vascular bundles, enhanced water transport speed and phloem sugar unloading of fruit after veraison, and increased berry size.

Two-phase flow in the gas diffusion layer with different perforation of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

ABSTRACT Gas diffusion layer (GDL) is an important pathway for water transport in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The presence of excessive liquid water in the cathode GDL will cause “water flooding” and block the reactant transport path to catalyst sites. Therefore, it’s critical to understand water transfer mechanism in GDL and propose novel strategy to improve water management. In this study, the effect of GDL with different perforation holes on liquid water transport behavior are investigated by volume of fluid method. The simulation model is validated by comparing with the reported data. The results show that the GDL with perforation holes will accelerate the liquid water breakthrough. Specially, the GDL with cylindrical perforation achieves the lowest breakthrough pressure, and most excellent water drainage capacity under various pressure drops. The gradient hydrophobic distribution in GDL will improve the water breakthrough path and drainage capacity. However, gradient hydrophobic treatment in GDL with conical perforations will result more water leakage along the though-plane direction. The simulation results will provide significant guidance for designing high performance GDL and improving the water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cell.

Isotope Distribution Analysis in H₂18O Pulse-Labeled Trees Frozen with Liquid Nitrogen.

Tracer injection has long been recognized as a valuable tool for delineating tree hydraulics and assessing water transport pathways. Recently, isotope tracers have emerged as innovative instruments for investigating tree hydraulics, providing new insights into tree water dynamics. Nevertheless, there is a critical need for further research to comprehensively grasp water movement and distribution within trees. A previously introduced technique for analyzing the isotopic ratio of water in wet tissues, offering millimeter-scale resolution for visualizing tracer movement, faces challenges due to its underdeveloped sample preparation techniques. In this study, we introduced an H2 18O tracer into S. gracilistyla samples, exclusively comprising indeterminate roots, stems, and leaves, cultivated through hydroponics and grown within the current year. Our objective was to assess the axial distribution of the tracer in the xylem. Additionally, we devised a novel method for preparing frozen wet tissue samples, enhancing the repeatability and success rate of experiments. The results demonstrated that all frozen wet tissue samples exhibited an average water loss rate of less than 0.6%. Isotopic analysis of these samples unveiled a consistent decline in tracer concentration with increasing height in all Salix specimens, with three out of five samples revealing a significant isotope gradient. Our findings affirm the efficacy and practicality of combining isotopic labeling with freezing, stabilization, and preparation techniques. Looking ahead, our isotopic labeling and analysis methods are poised to transcend woody plants, finding extensive applications in plant physiology and ecohydrology.

Montmorillonite pigment effects on the water barrier properties of paper coated with latexes synthesized through surfactant and Pickering emulsion methods

Pigments are often added to improve the barrier performance of dispersion coatings on paper, but they only are beneficial up to a limited pigment volume concentration (PVC). In this study, the use of montmorillonite (MMT) as pigment was explored in latex emulsions synthesized using surfactant and Pickering emulsion methods to explore the origins of this limitation. MMT was used to synthesize dispersion coatings for paper consisting of poly(styrene-co-butylacrylate) latex and compared with those synthesized using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant. The Pickering, surfactant, and commercial coating systems with MMT decreased the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), reaching minimum values at 1.2 %, 2 %, and 0.4 % PVC, respectively. At higher PVC values, the WVTR of all systems increased, which was attributed to the MMT pigments creating pathways for water transport. Moreover, similar pore volumes were found in all the latex films, indicating that the decrease in barrier properties as PVC increased was not caused by pore generation. The hydrophilicity of the MMT pigment was found to contribute to the observed minimum and lower barrier properties with increasing PVC. This work demonstrates that addition of pigments to the latex can be beneficial to improve paper barrier properties up to a certain level beyond which the pigments form percolation networks along the interfaces between MMT and the polymer, reducing the barrier properties.

Application of Intracerebral Aquaporin-4 Expression in Differential Diagnosis of Drowning: an Immunohistochemical Study Related to Timing of Autopsy.

The role of forensic pathologists is pivotal in definitively diagnosing drowning cases. Further differentiation becomes essential for distinguishing between freshwater drowning (FWD) and saltwater drowning (SWD). Aquaporins are small integral membrane proteins that serve as major water transport pathways in various cell types. AQP4 appears to be involved in mechanisms related to cerebral volume regulation. Our study aims to examine the expression of AQP4 in the brain as a potential marker for differentiating between FWD and SWD relating to autopsy-performing timing. A total of 23 cases were classified into three groups: FWD, SWD, and controls. All samples were classified upon autopsy-performing timing into two subgroups: within and after 72 hours of death. The samples were then processed for histological and immunohistochemical investigations. For autopsies performed within 72 hours of death, we found a significantly higher value of AQP4-positive astrocytes in cases of FWD compared to SWD and control groups. We also found a significantly lower AQP4 expression in SWD cases compared to the control group. For autopsies conducted after 72 hours, the immunohistochemical staining does not reveal the peripheral terminations of astrocytes, which appear blurred and only recognizable as halos. In conclusion, the data aligns with existing literature about autopsies performed within 72 hours. However, in autopsies conducted after 72 hours, uncertain and even opposed results are observed. The difference can be ascribed to the post-mortem transformative processes that take place upon the cessation of vital functions.

Real-Time Dynamics of Water Transport in the Roots of Intact Maize Plants in Response to Water Stress: The Role of Aquaporins and the Contribution of Different Water Transport Pathways.

Using an original methodological and technical approach, we studied the real-time dynamics of radial water transfer in roots and transpiration rate in intact maize plants in response to water stress. It was shown that the response of maize plants to water stress, induced by 10% PEG 6000, was accompanied by changes in the intensity and redistribution of water transfer along different pathways of radial water transport in the roots. It was shown that during the first minutes of water stress impact, the intensity of transcellular and symplastic water transport in the roots decreased with a parallel short-term increase in the transpiration rate in leaves and, presumably, in apoplastic transport in roots. Further, after a decrease in transpiration rate, the intensity of transcellular and symplastic water transport was restored to approximately the initial values and was accompanied by parallel upregulation of some PIP aquaporin genes in roots and leaves, changes in aquaporin localization in root tissues, and changes in xylem sap pH. Under water stress conditions, cell-to-cell water transport in roots becomes dominant, and aquaporins contribute to the simultaneous regulation of water transport in roots and shoots under water stress.

Understanding Porous Transport Layer Structure-Property-Performance Relationships in PEM Water Electrolyzers

Low temperature electrolysis (LTE) is a very promising technology to help with the decarbonization of the energy sector through the production of green hydrogen from renewable energy sources. The DOE has recently launched the first Energy Earthshot targeting the reduction of clean hydrogen cost by 80% to $1 per 1 kg H2 produced in 1 decade. To reach such ambitious targets the technology development needs to consider both capital expenditures (CAPEX) such as material and component costs and their lifetimes, as well as operational expenditures (OPEX) such as cell performance and efficiency. One component that touches on either expenditure is the porous transport layer (PTL). The PTL provides various key functions within an electrolysis cell/stack. It provides transport pathways for electrons, water and gas, and mechanical support for the membrane. Its interface with the catalyst layer is crucial with regards to the limitation of ohmic overpotentials, but also heat transport within the cell. PTLs are currently fabricated from sintered Ti materials that are required to be coated with a PGM material when operated with low loading catalyst layers. Multi-layer PTL materials may further improve cell performance and enable the thrifting of catalyst loadings and the utilization of thin membrane materials. This presentation will introduce the various functionalities of the PTL and highlight research and development efforts including those of DOE’s H2New Consortium and NREL. Specifically impacts of PTL morphology, PTL coatings, and PTL/catalyst layer interactions will be discussed.

Janus polysulfone gradient hollow fiber membranes with interfacial photothermal evaporation by optimization of water transport and thermal management

Interfacial solar evaporation is a promising technology to get fresh water from seawater, because it is free of fossil fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emission. Here, a Janus gradient polysulfone hollow fiber membrane (PSF HFM) with capillary force-driven water transport and 3D evaporation performance was constructed. Different from the traditional 3D evaporation architecture, internal water transport and external water vapor are generated simultaneously. Especially, the outer surface of the membrane can also effectively absorb heat from the environment for cold evaporation because its temperature is lower than the ambient temperature. The obtained 3D PSF HFMs showed a light absorption rate of 93.7 % under simulated sunlight, and an evaporation rate of 2.51 kg·m−2·h−1 under one sun at an ambient temperature of 25 ℃. The evaporation rate of 1.6 kg·m−2·h−1 could be obtained in simulated seawater. The effect of MWCNTs on the evaporation rate was evaluated, showing that the MWCNTs with special water transport pathways were conductive to evaporation process. Overall, this work demonstrates a new direction for the future development of solar-driven evaporation.

Innovative construction of nano-wrinkled polyamide membranes using covalent organic framework nanoflowers for efficient desalination and antibiotic removal

In recent years, the scientific community has identified the intriguing potential of polyamide (PA) nanofiltration (NF) membranes with nano-wrinkled structures, promising to transcend the longstanding permeability-selectivity trade-off inherent in conventional membranes. The present study advances this frontier by masterfully employing covalent organic framework (COF) nanoflowers, meticulously constructed on substrate surfaces using a sophisticated layer-by-layer self-assembly technique. This innovation mediates the interfacial polymerization (IP) process, integral to PA NF membrane fabrication. Through rigorous analysis employing scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, the derived PA membrane was found to exhibit a distinctive nano-wrinkled morphology. Remarkably, this novel structure yielded a pure water permeance nearly threefold that of control membranes with conventional nodular PA layers. This enhancement is attributed to a synergistic combination of factors that includes increased surface hydrophilicity, greater surface area, thinner PA layer, and an optimized water transport pathway. Furthermore, this membrane demonstrated an impressive 98.7 % Na2SO4 rejection rate, greater than 96.4 % rejections for four critical antibiotics, and commendable stability in flux with superior anti-fouling characteristics. These groundbreaking insights open new avenues for the development of high-performance nano-wrinkled PA membranes, with far-reaching implications for various environmental applications.

Thin film nanocomposite membranes fabricated via 2D ZIF-67 nanosheets and 1D nanofibers with ultrahigh water flux for dye removal from wastewater

Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes based on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have received increasing attention in the field of water treatment. However, TFN membranes with both high permeance and rejection rates are highly desired. In this study, ultra-thin ZIF-67 was synthesized and TFN membranes were fabricated by combining the obtained 2D ZIF-67 with cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The nanofibers not only fill the gaps between the ZIF-67 nanosheets but also form an intercalation layer between the ZIF-67 nanosheets and function as a water transport pathway, leading to a significant enhancement of water permeance. By introducing CNF into the ZIF-67-embedded matrix, the dye rejection rates increase to 96.8 % and 93.3 %, respectively, with water permeance of about 90.0 L⋅m−2⋅h−1⋅bar−1. Further introducing CNT into the CNF/ZIF-67 membrane further improved the water permeance to 207.8 L⋅m−2⋅h−1⋅bar−1, while a dye rejection rate of 95.1 % was documented. The results indicate that the introduction of nanofibers into 2D MOF matrix to form TFN membranes has great potential for wastewater treatment.

Three-dimensional macroporous foamy MXene membrane with high efficiency on interfacial evaporation and wastewater purification

With the advantages of abundant surface hydrophilic groups and high photothermal conversion efficiency, MXene has attracted much attention in the field of photothermal evaporation for water production, but the drawback of easy accumulation limits its application in solar energy-driven interfacial evaporation. In this work, we present the process of creating three-dimensional macroporous foamy MXene membranes (FMXM) using Ti3C2 MXenes through the sacrificial use of melamine formaldehyde spheres (MFs) templates. In contrast to MXene membrane (MXM) evaporators, FMXM-based evaporators demonstrate exceptional light-to-heat conversion efficiency. The loosely porous structure of the FMXM facilitates a pathway for water transport, while the pleated surface minimizes light reflection. These factors contribute to the high light absorption capability and efficient water transfer rate of the FMXM evaporator. The evaporation rate and evaporation efficiency were 1.54 kg m−2 h−1 and 87.1 %, respectively, at one solar lower radiation intensity. In addition, FMXM exhibits commendable evaporation rates and evaporation efficiencies across various salt solutions, including highly saline brines, which have significant potential for application in solar-assisted desalination processes. The effectiveness of wastewater treatment was assessed, revealing the complete removal of dye contaminants. Our results break through the limitations of MXene material stacking, provide a scalable strategy, and demonstrate its potential in solar driven interfacial evaporation.

Photothermal Ti2O3/polyurethane/polyacrylamide foam with high solar-evaporation efficiency

Photothermal material is indispensable for the fabrication of solar steam generation with easy-manufacture, cost-effective, and high-performance. Here, Ti2O3/polyacrylamide/polyurethane foams (Ti2O3/PU/PAM) were rationally designed, applying the synergetic effects from ball-milled Ti2O3, hydrophilic PAM, and heat-retaining structure of PU foam. With virtues of reduced evaporation enthalpy, abundant water transport pathways, and effective thermal insulation, the resulting Ti2O3/PU/PAM photothermal foam exhibits a high evaporation rate of 2.15 kg m−2 h−1 and a water evaporation efficiency of 140.42 % under 1 sun (1 kW m−2). In addition, the results of this study can serve as a reference for highly efficient, green, and recyclable seawater desalination. It is envisioned that the results of this study provided a strategy to fabricate novel photothermal materials for highly efficient, clean, and long-term solar steam generation.

Wood membrane filter for water purification with radial and axial flows

Water availability is an important issue all over the world, and membrane filtration technology is one of the most effective measures for remediation. As a sustainable and renewable biomass material, natural wood has a hierarchical and three-dimensional interconnected microstructure, which provides an alternative for water filter design. Longitudinal filtration could take advantage of the micropores, while the treatment speed is severely limited. This study examined a wood filter in which muddy wastewater can be transported into the microchannels and out of the vertically stacked micropores. The filter takes full advantage of the pores present in the wood without sacrificing the speed of hydraulic flow within the main transport channels, exhibiting excellent performance for mud removal. In this manner, water flux, decolorization, and turbidity are highly dependent on the groove number, groove depth, and thickness of the filter. Due to the reorientation of the water transport pathways, the clogging of micropores could be easily alleviated, thus promoting the filter lifecycle. The design of the cross-flow wood filter can provide an available platform for various wastewater treatment cases with different impurities, displaying an application prospect in the wastewater treatment field.

Development of sustainable biomass residues for biofuels applications

A comprehensive understanding of physiochemical properties, thermal degradation behavior and chemical composition is significant for biomass residues before their thermochemical conversion for energy production. In this investigation, teff straw (TS), coffee husk (CH), corn cob (CC), and sweet sorghum stalk (SSS) residues were characterized to assess their potential applications as value-added bioenergy and chemical products. The thermal degradation behavior of CC, CH, TS and SSS samples is calculated using four different heating rates. The activation energy values ranged from 81.919 to 262.238 and 85.737–212.349 kJ mol−1 and were generated by the KAS and FWO models and aided in understanding the biomass conversion process into bio-products. The cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents of CC, CH, TS, and SSS were found to be in the ranges of 31.56–41.15%, 23.9–32.02%, and 19.85–25.07%, respectively. The calorific values of the residues ranged from 17.3 to 19.7 MJ/kg, comparable to crude biomass. Scanning electron micrographs revealed agglomerated, irregular, and rough textures, with parallel lines providing nutrient and water transport pathways in all biomass samples. Energy Dispersive X-ray spectra and X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the presence of high carbonaceous material and crystalline nature. FTIR analysis identified prominent band peaks at specific wave numbers. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that these residues hold potential as energy sources for various applications, such as the textile, plastics, paints, automobile, and food additive industries.

Pathway for Water Transport through Breathable Nanocomposite Membranes of PEBAX with Ionic Liquid [C12C1im]Cl.

Water transport through membranes is an attractive topic among the research dedicated to dehydration processes, microenvironment regulation, or more simply, recovery of freshwater. Herein, an atomistic computer simulation is proposed to provide new insights about a water vapor transport mechanism through PEBAX membranes filled with ionic liquid (IL) [C12C1im]Cl. Starting from experimental evidence that indicates an effective increase in water permeation as the IL is added to the polymer matrix (e.g., up to 85·10-3 (g·m)/(m2·day) at 318.15 K for PEBAX@2533 membranes loaded with 70% of IL), molecular dynamics simulations are proposed to explore the key role of IL in water transport inside membranes. The polar region composed of anions and cationic head groups of the IL is demonstrated to serve as the pathway for water transport through the membrane. Water molecules always stay near the pathway, which becomes wider and thus has a larger water-accessible area with increasing IL concentration. Hence, the diffusion coefficients of water molecules and ions increase as the IL concentration increases. The simulation provides useful indications about a microscopic mechanism that regulates the transport of water vapor through a kind of PEBAX/IL membrane, resulting in full agreement with the experimental evidence.