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Construction of Photothermal Intelligent Membranes for Point-of-Use Water Treatment
Hong Jiang1, Jiarong Wang1, Ying Liang1
1MOE Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Science and Engineering, College of Architecture & Environmental Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 17, 2024
Summary
This study presents a novel membrane for water purification, combining photothermal sterilization with self-cleaning capabilities. The developed NIPAN@CNTs/PAN membrane effectively removes pathogens and recovers flux, ideal for remote water treatment.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Point-of-use (POU) water treatment is crucial for remote areas and disaster relief.
- Photothermal sterilization offers effective pathogen removal without secondary pollution.
- Membrane fouling limits the efficiency of combined photothermal and membrane water treatment systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a multifunctional membrane for POU water treatment.
- To integrate photothermal sterilization and self-cleaning capabilities into a single membrane.
- To enhance membrane efficiency through improved flux recovery and reduced fouling.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membrane incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and a copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAN).
- Evaluated the membrane's photothermal sterilization efficiency under near-infrared (NIR) light.
- Assessed membrane performance, including flux recovery and fouling reduction, after thermal cleaning at 50 °C.
Main Results:
- The NIPAN@CNTs/PAN membrane achieved 100% sterilization within 4-6 minutes of NIR exposure.
- Thermal rinsing at 50 °C significantly improved flux recovery from 50% to 87%.
- Irreversible fouling was reduced from 49.7% to 12.9%, demonstrating stable performance over multiple cycles.
Conclusions:
- The developed intelligent membrane offers efficient photothermal sterilization and self-cleaning for POU water treatment.
- The membrane's design addresses limitations of flux reduction and fouling in combined systems.
- This technology shows significant potential for long-term, practical application in ensuring safe drinking water.
