Toward Scalability: Fe-MOF-Based Ultrafiltration Membrane for Effective Microplastics Removal from Drinking Water at...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Water Treatment

Background:

• Microplastics (MPs) are frequently found in bottled water, posing risks due to potential co-contaminant transport.
• Existing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for MP removal lack practical application in point-of-use (POU) drinking water systems, especially concerning scalability and water delivery.
• Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes are used for water purification but require enhancement for effective microplastic removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel Fe-MOF@UF composite membrane for enhanced removal of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-MPs from drinking water at the point-of-use.
• To assess the practical applicability and performance of the Fe-MOF@UF membrane in filtering commercially available bottled water.
• To demonstrate the potential of MOF-membrane hybrids as a scalable and cost-effective solution for household microplastic filtration.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of NH2-MIL-101(Fe) metal-organic framework (MOF).
• Integration of the synthesized Fe-MOF onto a commercial polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane to create a Fe-MOF@UF composite.
• Characterization of the composite membrane's performance in rejecting polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics from drinking water.
• Validation of the membrane's efficacy using commercially available PET-bottled drinking water and assessment of water quality compliance.

Main Results:

• The optimally synthesized Fe-MOF@UF composite membrane achieved approximately 94% rejection efficacy for PET-MPs.
• Practical application tests confirmed effective MP removal from commercial PET-bottled drinking water.
• The treated water met international drinking water quality standards, indicating safe potable water delivery.
• The Fe-MOF@UF membrane demonstrated practical viability for point-of-use drinking water treatment.

Conclusions:

• The developed Fe-MOF@UF composite membrane represents a significant advancement in point-of-use microplastic removal from drinking water.
• This study highlights the first practical viability of MOF-membrane hybrids for treating microplastic-contaminated drinking water.
• The research provides a strong foundation for future optimization and scalable, cost-effective household MP filtration units.
• MOF-incorporated membranes offer a promising pathway for sustainable microplastic mitigation in drinking water.