Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Dialysis

Dialysis

Dialysis is a diffusion-based purification process that separates analyte molecules from a complex matrix. This is accomplished by allowing molecules in the solution to pass through a semipermeable membrane into a liquid on the other side. The membrane is usually made of cellulose acetate or cellulose nitrate, and the second liquid must be miscible with the solution. Ions (e.g., chloride or sodium) or organic molecules (e.g., glucose) can pass through the membrane pores, which generally have...

Ion Exchange

Ion Exchange

Ion exchange chromatography separates charged molecules from a solution by reversibly exchanging them with mobile, or 'active', ions associated with the oppositely charged stationary phase. This method can be used to separate ions, soften and deionize water, and purify solutions. The polymers comprising the ion-exchange column are high-molecular-weight and chemically stable polymers, crosslinked to be porous and essentially insoluble. They are also functionalized with either acidic or...

Potentiometry: Membrane Electrodes

Potentiometry: Membrane Electrodes

Membrane electrodes, also known as p-ion electrodes, use membranes that selectively interact with free analyte ions, generating a potential difference across the membrane. The resulting membrane potential, known as the asymmetry potential, is not zero even when analyte concentrations on both sides of the membrane are equal. The membrane's response is typically not selective to a single analyte but proportional to the concentration of all ions in the sample solution capable of interacting at...

Aquaporins

Aquaporins

Aquaporins or AQPs are a family of integral membrane proteins whose primary function is to transport water, while some called aquaglyceroporins also transport glycerol. In addition, aquaporins have also been suspected to be involved in transporting volatile substances, such as carbon dioxide and ammonia, across membranes. Such AQPs that act as gas channels are often highly expressed in cells involved in the gaseous exchange, such as red blood cells, epithelial cells, and pulmonary capillaries.

Detergent Purification of Membrane Proteins

Detergent Purification of Membrane Proteins

Detergents are used to purify the integral proteins of the membrane. The hydrophobic portion of the detergent can replace membrane phospholipids while solubilizing the membrane proteins. When detergent monomers reach a specific concentration in a solution called critical micelle concentration (CMC), they form micelles. Above CMC, the concentration of the detergent monomers remains in equilibrium with the micelle. The number of detergent monomers present in the CMC varies for each detergent, and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Interfacial proton-electron donor synergy enables sustainable oxime electrosynthesis via dual-path reduction.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Self-powered dual-electrode hydrogen production using a composite ion exchange membrane.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Janus Reaction-Zone Catalytic Membrane for Sequential and Selective Degradation of Multiple Micropollutants: Performance and Mechanistic Insights.

Environmental science & technology·2026

Same author

Advances in microneedle therapeutics for recurrent aphthous ulcers.

Biomedical materials (Bristol, England)·2026

Same author

Lotus-leaf-mimetic catalytic cleaning membranes with enriched oxygen vacancies for efficient water purification.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Functional Group-Mediated Evaporation Enthalpy and Nanoconfinement-Engineered Water Clusters' Synergy in Versatile MXene/iCOFs Hydrogels for Salt-Resistant Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation.

Environmental science & technology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device

Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device

Published on: July 20, 2021

Architected Composite Reverse Osmosis Membrane with Multibarrier for Enhanced Ammonium Selectivity.

Yi-Yu Ling¹, Ke-Xin Yuan¹, Siming Xie¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China.

Environmental Science & Technology

|November 13, 2025

Summary

A novel reverse osmosis (RO) membrane, enhanced with polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, significantly improves ammonium removal in wastewater treatment, achieving 98.39% rejection. This advanced membrane technology boosts water recycling and sustainability.

Keywords:

ammonium selectivity concentration trap electrostatic barriers functional fillings reverse osmosis

More Related Videos

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Published on: January 22, 2015

Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes

Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes

Published on: August 16, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device

Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device

Published on: July 20, 2021

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Published on: January 22, 2015

Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes

Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes

Published on: August 16, 2018

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Environmental Engineering
Chemical Engineering

Background:

Conventional reverse osmosis (RO) membranes exhibit limited ammonium (NH₄⁺-N) rejection (∼93%) in wastewater treatment.
Effective ammonium removal is crucial for water recycling and meeting sustainable development goals.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a novel thin-film composite RO (TFC-RO) membrane with enhanced ammonium rejection capabilities.
To investigate the mechanism behind the improved ammonium rejection by functionalized membranes.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of a TFC-RO membrane by doping polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers into the polyamide (PA) layer.
Characterization of membrane structure, surface charge, and free-volume properties.
Evaluation of ammonium rejection and water permeability through membrane performance testing.

Main Results:

The PAMAM-doped TFC-RO membrane achieved an exceptional NH₄⁺-N rejection of 98.39%, surpassing conventional membranes.
PAMAM dendrimers optimized interfacial polymerization, creating a defect-reduced PA layer with improved size-sieving and maintained water permeability (3.74 L/m²·h·bar).
A synergistic 'structure-charge-concentration' mechanism involving protonated amine groups and molecular mimicry was identified for effective NH₄⁺ inhibition.

Conclusions:

The filling-integrated TFC-RO membrane design offers a highly effective solution for ammonium removal in wastewater.
This advanced membrane technology contributes to efficient low-carbon water recycling and sustainable water management.
The study presents a promising approach for developing next-generation membranes for challenging water treatment applications.