Membrane Application: Separation, Purification and Recovery of Metals in Industrial Wastes

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Membrane Applications for Water Treatment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 638

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Global Smart City, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon-si 16419, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
Interests: membrane fabrication; membrane separation; water treatment; surface modification; resource recovery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growing concerns over environmental sustainability and resource depletion have underscored the need for efficient and innovative methods to reclaim valuable metals from wastewater and other industrial effluents. Membrane-based technologies, such as nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and electrodialysis, have emerged as promising solutions for selective separation and recovery, offering high efficiency and lower energy consumption compared to traditional methods.

We are particularly interested in studies that explore advancements in membrane materials, such as novel polymeric and ceramic membranes, and their effectiveness in extracting metals like copper, nickel, and precious metals from various waste streams. Papers that address challenges such as membrane fouling, scalability, and economic feasibility will be highly valued. We also welcome case studies showcasing real-world applications and pilot projects that demonstrate the practical implications of these technologies.

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the discourse on sustainable practices in metal recovery and to share your insights with a global audience of experts in the field. We look forward to receiving your submissions and advancing our understanding of membrane processes in the recovery of metals from industrial wastes.

Dr. Paula Jungwon Choi
Guest Editor

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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-blind 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

  • heavy metal recovery
  • membrane process
  • wastewater treatment
  • ceramic membranes

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 1887 KiB  
Article
Third-Phase Formation in Rare Earth Element Extraction with D2EHPA: Key Factors and Impact on Liquid Membrane Extraction Performance
by Raquel Rodríguez Varela, Alexandre Chagnes and Kerstin Forsberg
Membranes 2025, 15(7), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15070188 - 23 Jun 2025
Viewed by 446
Abstract
Hollow fibre renewal liquid membranes (HFRLMs) are susceptible to third-phase formation during rare earth element (REE) extraction using D2EHPA (bis(2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid)), potentially leading to membrane fouling and decreased mass transfer efficiency. This study investigated the effects of various parameters, such as the [...] Read more.
Hollow fibre renewal liquid membranes (HFRLMs) are susceptible to third-phase formation during rare earth element (REE) extraction using D2EHPA (bis(2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid)), potentially leading to membrane fouling and decreased mass transfer efficiency. This study investigated the effects of various parameters, such as the composition of the aqueous feed and organic phases, on the third-phase formation and limiting organic concentration (LOC) of REE(III) in D2EHPA. Higher concentrations of REEs and a higher pH in the feed phase correlated with decreased mass transfer, while yttrium showed a greater propensity to induce third-phase formation compared to other REEs. Conditions favouring the use of linear aliphatic diluents, low extractant concentrations (5–10 v/v% D2EHPA) and the absence of modifiers also contributed to third-phase formation. The addition of tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) mitigated third-phase formation without evidence of synergy with D2EHPA. These findings provide key insights into formulating extraction systems that prevent third-phase formation in HFRLM processes. Full article
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