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Enabling High-Boiling-Point Green Solvent Recycling Using Organic Solvent Nanofiltration Membranes
Marjolaine Thomas1, Ana R Nabais1, Maria J Burggraef1
1School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK.
Chemsuschem
|September 23, 2025
Summary
Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) offers a sustainable solution for recycling green solvents, reducing waste and energy use. This membrane technology effectively purifies solvents like Cyrene, enabling greener industrial processes.
Area of Science:
- Green Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Industrial organic solvent use causes pollution and health risks.
- Bio-based green solvents offer reduced toxicity but face recovery challenges.
- Sustainable alternatives are crucial for environmentally responsible manufacturing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) for efficient green solvent recycling.
- To evaluate OSN performance with common green solvents.
- To demonstrate the potential of OSN in industrial applications.
Main Methods:
- Investigated OSN membrane technology for solvent purification.
- Assessed OSN for recovering acetone, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, Cyrene, DMI, and GVL.
- Conducted a case study on Cyrene recycling in synthetic leather production.
Main Results:
- OSN effectively purifies and recycles various green solvents.
- The technology reduces waste and energy consumption in solvent recovery.
- Successful demonstration of in-process recycling of Cyrene.
Conclusions:
- OSN is a viable, energy-efficient technology for green solvent recycling.
- OSN contributes to more sustainable manufacturing processes.
- Membrane-based recycling enhances the life-cycle sustainability of green solvents.
