Enhancement of compatibility between covalent organic framework and polyamide membrane via an interfacial bridging method: Toward highly efficient water purification

Thiol-Ene Click Reaction in Constructing Liquid Separation Membranes for Water Treatment

In the evolving landscape of water treatment, membrane technology has ascended to an instrumental role, underscored by its unmatched efficacy and ubiquity. Diverse synthesis and modification techniques are employed to fabricate state-of-the-art liquid separation membranes. Click reactions, distinguished by their rapid kinetics, minimal byproduct generation, and simple reaction condition, emerge as a potent paradigm for devising eco-functional materials. While the metal-free thiol-ene click reaction is acknowledged as a viable approach for membrane material innovation, a systematic elucidation of its applicability in liquid separation membrane development remains conspicuously absent. This review elucidates the pre-functionalization strategies of substrate materials tailored for thiol-ene reactions, notably highlighting thiolation and introducing unsaturated moieties. The consequential implications of thiol-ene reactions on membrane properties-including trade-off effect, surface wettability, and antifouling property-are discussed. The application of thiol-ene reaction in fabricating various liquid separation membranes for different water treatment processes, including wastewater treatment, oil/water separation, and ion separation, are reviewed. Finally, the prospects of thiol-ene reaction in designing novel liquid separation membrane, including pre-functionalization, products prediction, and solute-solute separation membrane, are proposed. This review endeavors to furnish invaluable insights, paving the way for expanding the horizons of thiol-ene reaction application in liquid separation membrane fabrication.

Covalent organic frameworks: Pioneering remediation solutions for organic pollutants

Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) have emerged as a promising class of crystalline porous materials with customizable structures, high surface areas, and tunable functionalities. Their unique properties make them attractive candidates for addressing environmental contamination caused by pharmaceuticals, pesticides, industrial chemicals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and endocrine disruptors (EDCs). This review article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements and applications of COFs in removing and remedying various environmental contaminants. We delve into the synthesis, properties, and performance of COFs and their potential limitations and future prospects.

Novel Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of COFs: 2020–2022

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as a new type of crystalline porous polymers of great interest. However, their preparation requires long reaction times. Microwave-assisted synthesis (MAS) offers an interesting approach to increasing the reaction rate of chemical processes. Thus, microwaves can be a key tool for the fast and scalable synthesis of COFs. Since our previous review on the topic, the preparation of COFs with microwaves has been evolving. Herein, we present a compilation of COFs studies and experiments published in the last three years on the synthesis of COFs using microwave-assisted synthesis as a source of energy. The articles include imine, triazine, and other 2D COFs synthesized using MAS. The 3D COFs have also been compiled. The chemical structure of the monomers and the COFs and their main parameters of synthesis and application are summarized for each article.

Imparting Outstanding Dispersibility to Nanoscaled 2D COFs for Constructing Organic Solvent Forward Osmosis Membranes

In the context of thin-film nanocomposite membranes with interlayer (TFNi), nanoparticles are deposited uniformly onto the support prior to the formation of the polyamide (PA) layer. The successful implementation of this approach relies on the ability of nanoparticles to meet strict requirements regarding their sizes, dispersibility, and compatibility. Nevertheless, the synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) that are well-dispersed, uniformly morphological, and exhibit improved affinity to the PA network, while preventing agglomeration, remains a significant challenge. In this work, a simple and efficient method is presented for the synthesis of well-dispersed, uniformly morphological, and amine-functionalized 2D imine-linked COFs regardless of the ligand composition, group type, or framework pore size, by utilizing a polyethyleneimine (PEI) shielded covalent self-assembly strategy. Subsequently, the as-prepared COFs are incorporated into TFNi for the recycling of pharmaceutical synthetic organic solvents. After optimization, the membrane exhibits a high rejection rate and a favorable solvent flux, making it a reliable method for efficient organic recovery and the concentration of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) from the mother liquor through an organic solvent forward osmosis (OSFO) process. Notably, this study represents the first investigation of the impact of COF nanoparticles in TFNi on OSFO performance.