High-flux nanofiltration membranes prepared with β-cyclodextrin and graphene quantum dots

Recent Developments in Nanocomposite Membranes Based on Carbon Dots

Carbon dots (CDs) have aroused colossal attention in the fabrication of nanocomposite membranes ascribed to their ultra-small size, good dispersibility, biocompatibility, excellent fluorescence, facile synthesis, and ease of functionalization. Their unique properties could significantly improve membrane performance, including permeance, selectivity, and antifouling ability. In this review, we summarized the recent development of CDs-based nanocomposite membranes in many application areas. Specifically, we paid attention to the structural regulation and functionalization of CDs-based nanocomposite membranes by CDs. Thus, a detailed discussion about the relationship between the CDs' properties and microstructures and the separation performance of the prepared membranes was presented, highlighting the advantages of CDs in designing high-performance separation membranes. In addition, the excellent optical and electric properties of CDs enable the nanocomposite membranes with multiple functions, which was also presented in this review.

Colloidal 2D Covalent Organic Framework-Tailored Nanofiltration Membranes for Precise Molecular Sieving

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with tunable pore sizes and ordered structures are ideal materials for engineering nanofiltration (NF) membranes. However, most of the COFs prepared by solvothermal synthesis are unprocessable powders and fail to form well-structured membranes, which seriously hinders the development of COF NF membranes. Herein, colloidal 2D-COFs with processable membrane formation ability were synthesized by oil-in-water emulsion interfacial polymerization technology. COF NF membranes with tailored thickness and surface charge were fabricated via a layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly strategy. The prepared COF NF membrane achieved precise sieving of dye molecules with high permeance (85 L·m-2·h-1·bar-1). In this work, the strategy of prepared COF NF membranes based on colloid 2D-COF LBL assembly is proposed for the first time, which provides a new idea for the on-demand design and preparation of COF membranes for precise molecular sieving.

Tailoring the performance of composite PEI nanofiltration membranes via incorporating activated cyclodextrins

Cyclodextrins (CDs) with unique cavity structures have been used as materials for nanofiltration membrane fabrications. In the present work, the activated CD (O-CD), oxidated by NaIO4, and polyethyleneimine (PEI) were co-deposited on a hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile support, post-treated by glycerol protection and heating treatment, to prepare nanofiltration membranes with low molecular weight cut-off (MWCO). As the cavities in CD present and the aldehyde groups introduced after oxidation, the O-CDs were expected to crosslink the PEI layer and provide extra permeating channels. The filtration experiments showed that the incorporation of O-CDs improved the permeances of the O-CD-PEI/HPAN nanofiltration membranes. The performance can be tailored by the control of the loading or the oxidation degree of the O-CD. At optimal conditions, the permeance increment was nearly double (from 9.2 to 21.1 Lm-2·h-1·bar-1). While the selectivity was without significant sacrifice, the rejection of PEG 200 remained around 90%. Meanwhile, the membrane stability was demonstrated by pro-longed filtratiing a PEG 200 aqueous solution. The constant permeance and rejection confirmed the O-CD-PEI/HPAN membranes were stable. The incorporation of activated CD in PEI offers a facile strategy to promote the permeance of PEI-based membranes.

Low-pressure thin-film composite nanofiltration membranes with enhanced selectivity and antifouling property for effective dye/salt separation

For better sustainable resource recovery and elevating the separation efficiency of dye/salt mixture, it is essential to develop an appropriate nanofiltration membrane for the treatment of textile dyeing wastewater containing relatively smaller molecule dyes. In this work, a novel composite polyamide-polyester nanofiltration membrane was fabricated by tailoring amino functionalized quantum dots (NGQDs) and β-cyclodextrin (CD). An in-situ interfacial polymerization occurred between the synthesized NGQDs-CD and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) on the modified multi-carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) substrate. The incorporation of NGQDs significantly elevated the rejection (increased by ∼ 45.08%) of the resultant membrane for small molecular dye (Methyl orange, MO) compared to the pristine CD membrane at low pressure (1.5 bar). The newly developed NGQDs-CD-MWCNTs membrane exhibited enhanced water permeability without compromising the dye rejection compared to the pure NGQDs membrane. The improved performance of the membrane was primarily attributed to the synergistic effect of functionalized NGQDs and the special hollow-bowl structure of CD. The optimal NGQDs-CD-MWCNTs-5 membrane expressed pure water permeability of 12.35 L m^-2h^-1 bar^-1 at the pressure of 1.5 bar. Noteworthily, the NGQDs-CD-MWCNTs-5 membrane not only showed high rejection for the larger molecular dye of Congo Red (CR, 99.50%) but also for the smaller molecular dye of MO (96.01%) and Brilliant Green (BG, 95.60%) with the permeability of 8.81, 11.40, and 6.37 L m^-2h^-1 bar^-1, respectively at low pressure (1.5 bar). The rejection of inorganic salts by the NGQDs-CD-MWCNTs-5 membrane was 17.20% for sodium chloride (NaCl), 14.30% for magnesium chloride (MgCl₂), 24.63% for magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄), and 54.58% for sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄), respectively. The great rejection of dyes remained in the dye/salt binary mixed system (higher than 99% for BG and CR, <21% for NaCl). Importantly, the NGQDs-CD-MWCNTs-5 membrane exhibited favorable antifouling performance and potential good operation stability performance. Consequently, the fabricated NGQDs-CD-MWCNTs-5 membrane suggested a prospective application for the reuse of salts and water in textile wastewater treatment owing to the effective selective separation performance.

Preparation of chlorine-resistant and regenerable antifouling nanofiltration membrane through interfacial polymerization using beta cyclodextrin monomers

Constructing membrane with good chlorine resistance and antifouling properties is considered to be important challenges confronting membrane applications. In this study, a composite nanofiltration (NF) membrane (β-CD_x/y/PES) was prepared by interfacial polymerization using beta cyclodextrin (β-CD) monomers. Subsequently, the β-CD-based (AZ-β-CD_x/y/PES) membrane was prepared by assembling azobenzene labeled zwitterions into the hydrophobic internal cavity of β-CD via host-guest interaction. The optimized membrane exhibited slight change in water flux and rejection under chlorine environment. The AZ-β-CD_x/y/PES membrane also displayed an evidently lower loss in water flux in the antifouling test in comparison with the β-CD_x/y/PES membrane. More interestingly, the trans azo groups in azobenzene labeled zwitterions can turn into the cis isomers as the visible light irradiation converted to the UV light irradiation, breaking the interaction between azobenzene labeled zwitterions and β-CD. Hence, the contaminants upon the membrane surface can be simply eliminated by water washing under UV light irradiation. The antifouling membrane can be regenerated via immersing the reacquired β-CD_2/10/PES membrane into fresh azobenzene labeled zwitterions solution again.

A review on polyester and polyester-amide thin film composite nanofiltration membranes: Synthesis, characteristics and applications

Nanofiltration (NF) membranes have been widely used in various fields including water treatment and other separation processes, while conventional thin film composite (TFC) membranes with polyamide (PA) selective layers suffer the problems of fouling and chlorine intolerance. Due to the abundant hydrophilic hydroxyl groups and ester bonds free from chlorine attack, the TFC membranes composed of polyester (PE) or polyester-amide (PEA) selective layers have been proven to possess enhanced anti-fouling properties and superior chlorine resistance. In this review, the research progress of PE and PEA nanofiltration membranes is systematically summarized according to the variety of hydroxyl-containing monomers for membrane fabrication by the interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction. The synthesis strategies as well as the mechanisms for tailoring properties and performance of PE and PEA membranes are analyzed, and the membrane application advantages are demonstrated. Moreover, current challenges and future perspectives of the development of PE and PEA nanofiltration membranes are proposed. This review can offer guidance for designing high-performance PE and PEA membranes, thereby further promoting the efficacy of nanofiltration.

Green β-cyclodextrin-based corrosion inhibitors: Recent developments, innovations and future opportunities

β-Cyclodextrin-based compounds are used to develop and innovate materials that protect against corrosion due to their sustainability, low cost, environmental friendliness, excellent water solubility and high inhibition efficiency. However, corrosion potentials of β-CD-based compounds were not reviewed with the modern trends. The essence of the problem is that a deep understanding of the development and innovation of β-CD-based compounds as corrosion inhibitors is very important in creating next-generation materials for corrosion protection. In this review, the fundamental behaviour, importance, developments and innovations of β-CD modified with natural and synthetic polymers, β-CD grafted with the organic compounds, β-CD-based supramolecular (host-guest) systems with organic molecules, polymer β-CD-based supramolecular (host-guest) systems, β-CD-based graphene oxide materials, β-CD-based nanoparticle materials and β-CD-based nanocarriers as corrosion inhibitors for various metals were reviewed and discussed with recent research works as examples. In addition, the corrosion inhibition of β-CD-based compounds for biocorrosion, microbial corrosion and biofouling was reviewed. It was found that (i) these compounds are sustainable, inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and highly water-soluble and have high inhibition efficiency; (ii) the molecular structure of β-CD makes it an excellent molecular container for corrosion inhibitors compounds; (iii) the β-CD is excellent core to develop the next generation of corrosion inhibitors. It is recommended that (i) β-CD compounds would be synthesized by green methods, such as using biological sustainable catalysts and green solvents, green methods include irradiation or heating, energy-efficient microwave irradiation, mechanochemical mixing, solid-state reactions, hydrothermal reactions and multicomponent reactions; (ii) this review will be helpful in creating, enhancing and innovating the next green and efficient materials for future corrosion protection in high-impact industries.

Preparation of fouling resistant and highly perm-selective novel PSf/GO-vanillin nanofiltration membrane for efficient water purification

To meet the rising global demand for water, it is necessary to develop membranes capable of efficiently purifying contaminated water sources. Herein, we report a series of novel polysulfone (PSf)/GO-vanillin nanofiltration membranes highly permeable, selective, and fouling resistant. The membranes are composed of two-dimensional (2D) graphite oxide (GO) layers embedded with vanillin as porogen and PSf as the base polymer. There is a growing interest in addressing the synergistic effect of GO and vanillin on improving the permeability and antifouling characteristics of membranes. Various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques were used to perform detailed physicochemical and morphological analyses. The optimized PSf₁₆/GO_0.15-vanillin_0.8 membrane demonstrated 92.5% and 25.4% rejection rate for 2000 ppm magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄) and sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions respectively. Antifouling results showed over 99% rejection for BSA and 93.57% flux recovery ratio (FRR). Experimental work evaluated the antifouling characteristics of prepared membranes to treat landfill leachate wastewater. The results showed 84-90% rejection for magnesium (Mg⁺²) and calcium (Ca⁺²) with 90.32 FRR. The study experimentally demonstrated that adding GO and vanillin to the polymeric matrix significantly improves fouling resistance and membrane performance. Future research will focus on molecular sieving for industrial separations and other niche applications using mixed matrix membranes.