Nanofiltration Membranes with Salt-Responsive Ion Valves for Enhanced Separation Performance in Brackish Water Treatment: A Battle against the Limitation of Salt Concentration

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03919
• Publication Date: 2023-09-15T11:09:19Z
• Authors: Shirong Li; Langming Bai; Junwen Ding; Zihan Liu; Guibai Li; Heng Liang
• Keywords: Nanofiltration

Utilizing brackish water resources has imposed a high requirement on the design and construction of nanofiltration membranes. To overcome limitation salt concentration separation performance resulting from weakened Donnan effect, membrane with effect salt-responsive ion valves was developed by incorporating zwitterionic nanospheres into polyamide layer (PA-ZNs). The interaction between membranes at salinity revealed through combination analysis perspectives transport model, positron annihilation spectroscopy, solute rejection, contributing to formation valve effect. PA-ZNs presented breakthrough in overcoming increased concentrations performance, achieving selectivity 105 for mono/multivalent anions. reveal role membrane, conductance determined different concentrations, confirming channel-controlled low valve-controlled salinity. Moreover, main mechanisms were systematically studied. concept may contribute expanding application treatment.