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Fang C, Garcia-Rodriguez O, Yang L, Zhou Y, Imbrogno J, Swenson TM, Lefebvre O, Zhang S. Sequential high-recovery nanofiltration and electrochemical degradation for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 259:121832. [PMID: 38852395 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The presence of antibiotics in aquatic ecosystems poses a significant concern for public health and aquatic life, owing to their contribution to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Effective wastewater treatment strategies are needed to ensure that discharges from pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities are adequately controlled. Here we propose the sequential use of nanofiltration (NF) for concentrating a real pharmaceutical effluent derived from azithromycin production, followed by electrochemical oxidation for thorough removal of pharmaceutical compounds. The NF membrane demonstrated its capability to concentrate wastewater at a high recovery value of 95 % and 99.7 ± 0.2 % rejection to azithromycin. The subsequent electrochemical oxidation process completely degraded azithromycin in the concentrate within 30 min and reduced total organic carbon by 95 % in 180 min. Such integrated treatment approach minimized the electrochemically-treated volume through a low-energy membrane approach and enhanced mass transfer towards the electrodes, therefore driving the process toward zero-liquid-discharge objectives. Overall, our integrated approach holds promises for cost-effective and sustainable removal of trace pharmaceutical compounds and other organics in pharmaceutical wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyi Fang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
| | - Orlando Garcia-Rodriguez
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, #02-03, T-Lab Building 5A Engineering Drive 1 Singapore 117411; Centre for Water Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Engineering Drive 2, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
| | - Liming Yang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
| | - Yaochang Zhou
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
| | - Joseph Imbrogno
- Chemical Research & Development, Pfizer Inc., 280 Shennecossett Rd, Groton, CT 06340, USA
| | - Tim M Swenson
- Chemical Research & Development, Pfizer Inc., 280 Shennecossett Rd, Groton, CT 06340, USA
| | - Olivier Lefebvre
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, #02-03, T-Lab Building 5A Engineering Drive 1 Singapore 117411; Centre for Water Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Engineering Drive 2, Singapore, 117576, Singapore.
| | - Sui Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore.
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2
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Xie Y, Huang CQ, Zhou K, Liu Y. Elucidating the transport of water and ions in the nanochannel of covalent organic frameworks by molecular dynamics. J Chem Phys 2024; 161:014708. [PMID: 38953451 DOI: 10.1063/5.0195205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Inspired by biological channels, achieving precise separation of ion/water and ion/ion requires finely tuned pore sizes at molecular dimensions and deliberate exposure of charged groups. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a class of porous crystalline materials, offer well-defined nanoscale pores and diverse structures, making them excellent candidates for nanofluidic channels that facilitate ion and water transport. In this study, we perform molecular simulations to investigate the structure and kinetics of water and ions confined within the typical COFs with varied exposure of charged groups. The COFs exhibit vertically arrayed nanochannels, enabling diffusion coefficients of water molecules within COFs to remain within the same order of magnitude as in the bulk. The motion of water molecules manifests in two distinct modes, creating a mobile hydration layer around acid groups. The ion diffusion within COFs displays a notable disparity between monovalent (M+) and divalent (M2+) cations. As a result, the selectivity of M+/M2+ can exceed 100, while differentiation among M+ is less pronounced. In addition, our simulations indicate a high rejection (R > 98%) in COFs, indicating their potential as ideal materials for desalination. The chemical flexibility of COFs indicates that would hold significant promise as candidates for advanced artificial ion channels and separation membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahui Xie
- College of Energy, SIEMIS, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
- Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, SV LAB, School of Aerospace, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Chuan-Qi Huang
- Hangzhou Institute of Advanced Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, Hangzhou 311231, China
| | - Ke Zhou
- College of Energy, SIEMIS, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Yilun Liu
- Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, SV LAB, School of Aerospace, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
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Zhu CY, Li HN, Guo BB, Fang Y, Liu C, Yang HC, Zhang C, Liang HQ, Xu ZK. Leveraging Janus Substrates as a Confined "Interfacial Reactor" to Synthesize Ultrapermeable Polyamide Nanofilms. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2024; 7:0359. [PMID: 38694199 PMCID: PMC11062503 DOI: 10.34133/research.0359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Porous substrates act as open "interfacial reactors" during the synthesis of polyamide composite membranes via interfacial polymerization. However, achieving a thin and dense polyamide nanofilm with high permeance and selectivity is challenging when using a conventional substrate with uniform wettability. To overcome this limitation, we propose the use of Janus porous substrates as confined interfacial reactors to decouple the local monomer concentration from the total monomer amount during interfacial polymerization. By manipulating the location of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic interface in a Janus porous substrate, we can precisely control the monomer solution confined within the hydrophilic layer without compromising its concentration. The hydrophilic surface ensures the uniform distribution of monomers, preventing the formation of defects. By employing Janus substrates fabricated through single-sided deposition of polydopamine/polyethyleneimine, we significantly reduce the thickness of the polyamide nanofilms from 88.4 to 3.8 nm by decreasing the thickness of the hydrophilic layer. This reduction leads to a remarkable enhancement in water permeance from 7.2 to 52.0 l/m2·h·bar while still maintaining ~96% Na2SO4 rejection. The overall performance of this membrane surpasses that of most reported membranes, including state-of-the-art commercial products. The presented strategy is both simple and effective, bringing ultrapermeable polyamide nanofilms one step closer to practical separation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Ye Zhu
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Membrane and Water Treatment Technology, and Key Lab of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- The “Belt and Road” Sino-Portugal Joint Lab on Advanced Materials, International Research Center for X Polymers,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hao-Nan Li
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Membrane and Water Treatment Technology, and Key Lab of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Bian-Bian Guo
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Membrane and Water Treatment Technology, and Key Lab of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yu Fang
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Membrane and Water Treatment Technology, and Key Lab of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chang Liu
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Membrane and Water Treatment Technology, and Key Lab of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- The “Belt and Road” Sino-Portugal Joint Lab on Advanced Materials, International Research Center for X Polymers,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hao-Cheng Yang
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Membrane and Water Treatment Technology, and Key Lab of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- The “Belt and Road” Sino-Portugal Joint Lab on Advanced Materials, International Research Center for X Polymers,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Membrane and Water Treatment Technology, and Key Lab of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- The “Belt and Road” Sino-Portugal Joint Lab on Advanced Materials, International Research Center for X Polymers,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hong-Qing Liang
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Membrane and Water Treatment Technology, and Key Lab of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- The “Belt and Road” Sino-Portugal Joint Lab on Advanced Materials, International Research Center for X Polymers,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhi-Kang Xu
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Membrane and Water Treatment Technology, and Key Lab of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- The “Belt and Road” Sino-Portugal Joint Lab on Advanced Materials, International Research Center for X Polymers,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Meng QW, Wu D, Wang S, Sun Q. Function-Led Design of Covalent-Organic-Framework Membranes for Precise Ion Separation. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202302460. [PMID: 37605607 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202302460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Insufficient access to clean water and resources has emerged as one of the most pressing issues affecting people globally. Membrane-based ion separation has become a focal point of research for the generation of fresh water and the extraction of energy elements. This Review encapsulates recent advancements in the selective ion transport of covalent organic framework (COF) membranes, accomplished by strategically pairing diverse monomers to create membranes with various pore sizes and environments for specific purposes. We first discuss the merits of using COF materials as a basis for fabricating membranes for ion separation. We then explore the development of COF membranes in areas such as desalination, acid recovery, and energy element extraction, with a particular emphasis on the fundamental principles of membrane design. Lastly, we address both theoretical and practical challenges, as well as potential opportunities in the targeted design of ion-selective membranes. The goal of this Review is to stimulate future investigative efforts in this field, which is of significant scientific and strategic importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Wei Meng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of, Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P.R. China
| | - Di Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of, Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P.R. China
| | - Sai Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of, Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P.R. China
| | - Qi Sun
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of, Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P.R. China
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5
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Nguyen AG, Park CJ. Insights into tailoring composite solid polymer electrolytes for solid-state lithium batteries. J Memb Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
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6
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Wang Y, Ren L, Wang J, Zhao J, Chen QB. In-situ growth of anionic covalent organic frameworks efficaciously enhanced the monovalent selectivity of anion exchange membranes. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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