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Membranes
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Recent Advances in Polymeric Membranes—Preparation and Applications (2nd Edition)
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Recent Advances in Polymeric Membranes—Preparation and Applications (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Membrane Fabrication and Characterization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 6130

Editors

Dr. Manuel Aguilar-Vega

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Materials Unit, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Merida 97205, Mexico
Interests: development of membranes for natural gas sweetening and production of high-value streams; membrane system for improved water desalination systems NF and RO; ionic membranes for fuel cell membranes and energy applications; membranes; gas separation; water treatment; ionic membranes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. María Ortencia González-Díaz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Mérida 97205, Mexico
Interests: synthesis of polymers; copolymers of defined molecular architecture; membrane technology; polymeric membrane; BIOMASS; hydrogen; fuel cell
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of “Recent Advances in Polymeric Membranes—Preparation and Applications” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/membranes/special_issues/0VXE047BK8), we are pleased to announce the launch of the second edition of this Special Issue.

Over the years, polymeric membrane technology has received significant attention due to its advantages, such as ease of operation, energy saving capability, compact size, environmental friendliness, and multiple applications. Polymeric membranes can be prepared using varied techniques and with several configurations depending on their applications. The development of new polymeric materials and their growing number of applications demands the development of better-suited membranes with different characteristics or new composite membranes and methods of preparation, as well as new funtionalization methods.

This Special Issue will highlight the most recent and applicable achievements in the preparation, modification, and performance of polymeric membranes for water treatment, energy saving and/or energy storage, gas separation, and biomedical applications.

Dr. Manuel Aguilar-Vega
Dr. María Ortencia González-Díaz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymeric membranes
  • water treatment
  • gas separation and membranes for biomedical applications
  • energy saving

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1802 KB  
Article
Removal of Protein-Bound Uremic Toxins by Mixed Matrix Membranes of Cellulose Acetate/Silica/MOF
by João M. Santos Dionísio, Miguel P. da Silva, Ricardo F. S. Pereira, Tânia Frade, Tiago J. Ferreira, Moisés Luzia Pinto and Maria Norberta de Pinho
Membranes 2026, 16(7), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes16070232 (registering DOI) - 2 Jul 2026
Viewed by 143
Abstract
Adsorption therapies in hemodialysis have emerged as an innovative approach for removing protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs). The present work focuses on the enhancement of the adsorption capacity of hemodialysis membranes through the incorporation of Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs). The removal capacity of PBUT p-cresyl [...] Read more.
Adsorption therapies in hemodialysis have emerged as an innovative approach for removing protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs). The present work focuses on the enhancement of the adsorption capacity of hemodialysis membranes through the incorporation of Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs). The removal capacity of PBUT p-cresyl sulfate by cellulose acetate (CA)/silica (SiO2)/MOF mixed matrix membranes was investigated with two types of MOFs, UiO-66 which synthesis and characterization has been previously reported, and UiO-66-NH2. The UiO-66-NH2 MOFs were synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption equilibrium at −196 °C, and thermogravimetry analysis. Both mixed matrix membranes were synthesized by coupling the phase inversion technique with the sol–gel method and with casting solutions incorporating the MOF dispersions. The two membrane types of MOFs were characterized in terms of hydraulic permeability, molecular weight cut-off, and rejection coefficients to pCS and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The mixed matrix membranes CA/SiO2/UiO-66-NH2 exhibited lower permeability and molecular weight cut-off when compared to the CA/SiO2/UiO-66 ones. In permeation tests simulating a hemodialysis session with a feed solution of 100 ppm pCS and 35 g/L BSA, it is shown the improved performance of MOFs membranes as the rejection coefficients of free pCS is 0.2% for the CA22/SiO2/UiO-66 membrane with 1.5% of MOF and 2.6% for the CA22/SiO2/UiO-66-NH2 membrane with 2% of MOF. The capacity of these MOF membranes in removing pCS bound to BSA was addressed through the development of a new methodology to quantify the pCS free and bound to BSA. The CA22/SiO2/UiO-66 membrane with 1.5% of MOF has a removal capacity of 99.8% and the CA22/SiO2/UiO-66-NH2 membrane with 2% of MOF 95.9%. Based on these results, it is concluded that the mixed matrix membranes CA22/SiO2/UiO-66 and CA22/SiO2/UiO-66-NH2 are promising candidates for PBUTs removal in hemodialysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymeric Membranes—Preparation and Applications (2nd Edition))
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11 pages, 5653 KB  
Communication
A Reinforced Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membrane with PE Mesh
by Yiru Dou, Bihai Su, Ying Jin, Wen Zhang, Yue Wang and Yuxin Wang
Membranes 2026, 16(5), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes16050177 - 17 May 2026
Viewed by 503
Abstract
Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes are a key component in many applications, but their low dimensional stability and mechanical strength can result in unsatisfactory device performance and a short life span. To effectively and economically mitigate these limitations with the lowest possible sacrifice of [...] Read more.
Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes are a key component in many applications, but their low dimensional stability and mechanical strength can result in unsatisfactory device performance and a short life span. To effectively and economically mitigate these limitations with the lowest possible sacrifice of desirable properties, we report herein a PFSA membrane reinforced with a low-cost and easily available polyethylene (PE) mesh fabricated using a simple solution casting method. The high-strength and non-swellable mesh embedded in the PFSA matrix restricts its free swelling. As a result, the reinforced membrane shows a remarkably enhanced dimensional stability, lowering the areal swelling ratio to ~8% in water at 100 °C, in contrast to the ~58% of the unreinforced solution-cast membrane and ~44% of the melt-extruded commercial N117 membrane. Although the non-conductive PE mesh poses certain hindrances to proton transport, the reinforced membranes maintain ~94% of the proton conductivity of the pure PFSA membrane. Moreover, the mechanical strength of the reinforced membrane is enhanced to nearly three times that of the unreinforced one, reaching ~44 MPa. The incorporation of the PE mesh also leads to an enhanced resistance to oxidative corrosion and H2 gas crossover of the membrane. This research demonstrates a promising technological pathway for developing high-performance and cost-competitive PFSA membranes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymeric Membranes—Preparation and Applications (2nd Edition))
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24 pages, 6362 KB  
Article
Effects of Alkaline Cleaning Agents on the Filtration Performance and Aging of Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membranes
by Marek Gryta and Piotr Woźniak
Membranes 2026, 16(4), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes16040138 - 1 Apr 2026
Viewed by 996
Abstract
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes are used in ultrafiltration systems for car wash water reuse, where frequent alkaline cleaning is required to maintain operational flux rates. Although NaOH-induced degradation of virgin PVDF membranes has been reported, its relevance under real industrial conditions remains poorly [...] Read more.
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes are used in ultrafiltration systems for car wash water reuse, where frequent alkaline cleaning is required to maintain operational flux rates. Although NaOH-induced degradation of virgin PVDF membranes has been reported, its relevance under real industrial conditions remains poorly understood. This study investigates the long-term exposure of tubular PVDF membranes to alkaline car wash detergents and evaluates how the resulting structural changes influence permeate quality. During several months of pilot-scale operation with synthetic car wash wastewater and daily alkaline cleaning (pH > 11.5), permeate fluxes remained stable at 50–70 LMH despite pronounced membrane aging. Structural analyses revealed enlarged pore size, increased water permeability and reduced dextran retention, while FTIR confirmed dehydrofluorination of the polymer matrix. Despite the extensive degradation of the membrane skin layer, permeate turbidity, dissolved organic carbon, and surfactant concentrations remained stable throughout the operation. This stability was attributed to the persistent fouling layer, which acted as an effective secondary separation barrier and compensated for the loss of intrinsic membrane selectivity. These findings demonstrate that substantial PVDF degradation does not necessarily compromise permeate quality in car wash ultrafiltration systems, highlighting the dominant role of fouling-controlled separation under long-term alkaline cleaning regimes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymeric Membranes—Preparation and Applications (2nd Edition))
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19 pages, 3824 KB  
Article
Development of Chitosan Polymer Membranes with Potential Use in Filtration Processes
by Ana Luisa Aguilar-Ruiz, Tomás Jesús Madera-Santana, Reyna G. Sánchez-Duarte, Yedidia Villegas-Peralta, Ana Alejandra Aguilar-Ruiz and Víctor Manuel Orozco-Carmona
Membranes 2026, 16(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes16010031 - 4 Jan 2026
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Abstract
Polymeric membranes based on chitosan (Cs) were extracted from shrimp shells and evaluated. These membranes were modified using polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and glycerol (Gly) and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) to examine their suitability for water filtration processes. The Cs exhibited high [...] Read more.
Polymeric membranes based on chitosan (Cs) were extracted from shrimp shells and evaluated. These membranes were modified using polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and glycerol (Gly) and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) to examine their suitability for water filtration processes. The Cs exhibited high purity, a total nitrogen content of 6.49%, and an average molecular weight of 456 kDa, all of which are suitable for membrane formation. Four membranes (Cs-GA, B2: Cs-PEG, B5: Cs-PEG-PVP, and B7: Cs-Gly) were characterized by means of FTIR, SEM, AFM, thickness, contact angle, tensile testing, TGA, DSC, and filtration with distilled water at 4.83 bar. B2 and B5 showed thicknesses of 207 and 190 μm and contact angles of 56.7° and 58.9°, lower than that of Cs-GA (89.4°). In filtration, B2 achieved a flux of 2222.70 LMH, a permeance of 460.19 LMH·bar−1, and a hydraulic resistance of 8.79 × 1011 m−1, while Cs-GA, B5, and B7 exhibited fluxes of 24.10, 40.43, and 24.77 LMH, respectively, permeances of 9.75, 8.37, and 5.13 LMH·bar−1, and hydraulic resistances of 4.15 × 1013, 4.83 × 1013, and 7.89 × 1013 m−1, in the same order. Overall, membranes B2 and B5 are recognized as the most promising for water filtration under pressured operating conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymeric Membranes—Preparation and Applications (2nd Edition))
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22 pages, 3747 KB  
Article
Recycled Polystyrene as a Sustainable Material for Hollow Fiber Membranes in Dye Filtration
by Mauricio Huhn-Ibarra, Libia Madai Itza-Uitzil, Marcial Yam-Cervantes, Abigail González-Díaz, Fernando José Zapata-Catzin, Javier Ivan Cauich-Cupul, Manuel Aguilar-Vega and Maria Ortencia González-Díaz
Membranes 2025, 15(10), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15100285 - 23 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1947
Abstract
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste was chemically modified by sulfonation to obtain sulfonated EPS (sEPS), which was subsequently blended with virgin polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) at concentrations ranging from 10 to 50% to elaborate hollow fiber membranes for dye removal. The membranes were elaborated by non-solvent-induced [...] Read more.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste was chemically modified by sulfonation to obtain sulfonated EPS (sEPS), which was subsequently blended with virgin polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) at concentrations ranging from 10 to 50% to elaborate hollow fiber membranes for dye removal. The membranes were elaborated by non-solvent-induced phase separation and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, mechanical properties, antifouling, water flux measurements, and dye rejection performance. Scanning electron microscopy images of PPSU/sEPS blends showed well-defined membrane cross-sections with no polymer segregation up to 30% recycled EPS content, indicating improved compatibility due to EPS sulfonation. The HFMs present mean pore radii ranging from 4.2 ± 0.5 to 11.1 ± 1.0 nm with porosity up to 80%. Water flux improved significantly from 3.1 to 21.2 L m−2 h−1 at 2 bar as sEPS content increased. Dye rejection performance was promising, with Reactive Black 5 rejection ranging from 77% to 99%. The 80/20s PPSU/sEPS membrane showed the highest Reactive Black 5 rejection at 98.3% and revealed a 70.3% rejection in a 24 h dye mixture test. Furthermore, the 70/30s displayed superior anti-fouling properties, achieving a 99.3% flux recovery ratio in a xanthan gum solution at 2 bar. This study demonstrates a novel approach to transform EPS waste into high-performance hollow fiber membrane with competitive antifouling and dye separation properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymeric Membranes—Preparation and Applications (2nd Edition))
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