Engineering Thermal Cross-Linking in Nanofiltration Membranes for Efficient Nicotine Extraction from Tobacco Extract

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Separation Science

Background:

• Nicotine extraction from tobacco is challenging due to complex mixtures and limitations of traditional separation methods.
• Nicotine has high-value applications but poses health risks, necessitating efficient and safe extraction techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an integrally asymmetric nanofiltration membrane for highly efficient nicotine separation.
• To improve the performance and stability of membranes for extracting bioactive molecules from complex plant extracts.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a poly(aryl ether ketone) (PEK)-based ultrafiltration membrane using non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS).
• Controlled thermal cross-linking to tailor membrane pore size for nicotine separation.
• Incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles via sol-gel method to prevent pore collapse and enhance flux.

Main Results:

• The developed membrane achieved a molecular weight cut-off of ~180 Da.
• Demonstrated a nicotine rejection rate of 93.2% and a permeation flux of 143 L/(m²·h), a 259% increase over control membranes.
• Exhibited excellent chemical stability in organic solvents and extreme pH conditions.

Conclusions:

• The thermally cross-linked nanofiltration membrane provides a feasible and sustainable strategy for high-performance separation of nicotine.
• This approach enables targeted extraction of valuable bioactive molecules from complex plant matrices.
• The developed membrane technology has potential for industrial applications in natural product purification.