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Membranes
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Membranes for Resource, Energy, and Water Recovery
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Membranes for Resource, Energy, and Water Recovery

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 18976

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ralph Rolly Gonzales

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Center for Membrane and Film Technology, Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodaicho, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
Interests: membranes; engineered osmosis; water treatment; desalination; resource recovery; power generation
Prof. Dr. Yuqing Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200231, China
Interests: membrane fabrication; membrane process; molecular sieving; ionic sieving; reverse osmosis; nanofiltration; ultrafiltration; microfiltration; electrodialysis; interfacial polymerization
Dr. Miao Tian

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 1 Dongxiang Road, Chang'an District, Xi'an 710129, China
Interests: novel membrane development for water and wastewater treatment; forward Osmosis and reverse osmosis membranes in seawater desalination and water resource utilization and recovery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, and this water contains a vast amount of treasure waiting to be recovered. The treasure in the Earth’s water can come in the form of resource, energy, and potable water. Membrane technology has been widely used for water treatment, as well as energy and resource recovery.  Various membrane processes and materials have been widely used in realizing a better environment, wherein resources, energy, and clean water could be harnessed to augment the needs of a fastly changing world.

This Special Issue is designed to highlight membrane technology and membrane materials which could be used for simultaneous recovery of resource, energy, and water. Membrane scientists are invited to submit their original research and review articles to this Special Issue.

Dr. Ralph Rolly Gonzales
Dr. Yuqing Lin
Dr. Miao Tian
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 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

  • water treatment
  • resource recovery
  • energy generation
  • water reuse

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3384 KiB  
Article
High-Efficiency Water Recovery from Urine by Vacuum Membrane Distillation for Space Applications: Water Quality Improvement and Operation Stability
by Fei Wang, Junfeng Liu, Da Li, Zheng Liu, Jie Zhang, Ping Ding, Guochang Liu and Yujie Feng
Membranes 2022, 12(6), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12060629 - 17 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2552
Abstract
Water recovery by membrane distillation (MD) is an attractive alternative to existing urine treatment systems because it could improve the water recovery rate and reliability in space missions. However, there are few studies of urine MD, particularly on the removal of the remaining [...] Read more.
Water recovery by membrane distillation (MD) is an attractive alternative to existing urine treatment systems because it could improve the water recovery rate and reliability in space missions. However, there are few studies of urine MD, particularly on the removal of the remaining contaminants from distillate water and the assessment of its long-term performance. In this study, the influences of various operation parameters on distillate water quality and operation stability were investigated in batch mode. The low pH of feedstock reduced the conductivity and total ammonium nitrogen (TAN) in distillate water because the low pH promoted the ionization of ammonia to ammonium ions. However, the low pH also facilitated the formation of free chlorine hydride, which resulted in the minor deterioration of the conductivity in the distillate due to the increasing volatility of chlorine hydride in the feedstock. Thirty batches of vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) experiments demonstrated that the permeate flux and the distillate water quality slightly decreased due to the small range of membrane wetting but still maintained an over 94.2% and 95.8% removal efficiency of the total organic carbon (TOC) and TAN, and the conductivity was <125 μs cm−1 in the distillate water after 30 test batches. VMD is a feasible option for urine treatment in space missions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes for Resource, Energy, and Water Recovery)
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13 pages, 96093 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Nanofiltration Hollow Fiber Membrane Fabrication Process Based on Response Surface Method
by Mingshu Wang, Chang Liu, Min Fan, Meiling Liu and Songtao Shen
Membranes 2022, 12(4), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12040374 - 29 Mar 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2174
Abstract
Layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technology has become a new research hotspot in the fabrication of nanofiltration membranes in recent years. However, there is a lack of a systematic approach for the assessment of influencing factors during the membrane fabrication process. In this study, the [...] Read more.
Layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technology has become a new research hotspot in the fabrication of nanofiltration membranes in recent years. However, there is a lack of a systematic approach for the assessment of influencing factors during the membrane fabrication process. In this study, the process optimization of LBL deposition was performed by a two-step statistical method. The multiple linear regression was performed on the results of single-factor experiments to determine the major influencing factors on membrane performance, including the concentration of Poly (allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH), glutaraldehyde, and the NaCl concentration in PAH solution. The Box–Behnken response surface method was then used to analyze the interactions between the selected factors, while their correlation with the membrane performance was obtained by polynomial fitting. The R2 value of the regression models (0.97 and 0.94) was in good agreement with the adjusted R2 value (0.93 and 0.86), indicating that the quadratic response models were adequate enough to predict the membrane performance. The optimal process parameters were finally determined through dual-response surface analysis to achieve both high membrane permeability of 14.3 LMH·MPa−1 and MgSO4 rejection rate of 90.22%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes for Resource, Energy, and Water Recovery)
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13 pages, 33439 KiB  
Article
Nanofiltration Membranes Formed through Interfacial Polymerization Involving Cycloalkane Amine Monomer and Trimesoyl Chloride Showing Some Tolerance to Chlorine during Dye Desalination
by Micah Belle Marie Yap Ang, Yi-Ling Wu, Min-Yi Chu, Ping-Han Wu, Yu-Hsuan Chiao, Jeremiah C. Millare, Shu-Hsien Huang, Hui-An Tsai and Kueir-Rarn Lee
Membranes 2022, 12(3), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12030333 - 17 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3458
Abstract
Wastewater effluents containing high concentrations of dyes are highly toxic to the environment and aquatic organisms. Recycle and reuse of both water and dye in textile industries can save energy and costs. Thus, new materials are being explored to fabricate highly efficient nanofiltration [...] Read more.
Wastewater effluents containing high concentrations of dyes are highly toxic to the environment and aquatic organisms. Recycle and reuse of both water and dye in textile industries can save energy and costs. Thus, new materials are being explored to fabricate highly efficient nanofiltration membranes for fulfilling industrial needs. In this work, three diamines, 1,4-cyclohexanediamine (CHD), ethylenediamine (EDA), and p-phenylenediamine (PPD), are reacted with TMC separately to fabricate a thin film composite polyamide membrane for dye desalination. Their chemical structures are different, with the difference located in the middle of two terminal amines. The surface morphology, roughness, and thickness of the polyamide layer are dependent on the reactivity of the diamines with TMC. EDA has a short linear alkane chain, which can easily react with TMC, forming a very dense selective layer. CHD has a cyclohexane ring, making it more sterically hindered than EDA. As such, CHD’s reaction with TMC is slower than EDA’s, leading to a thinner polyamide layer. PPD has a benzene ring, which should make it the most sterically hindered structure; however, its benzene ring has a pi-pi interaction with TMC that can facilitate a faster reaction between PPD and TMC, leading to a thicker polyamide layer. Among the TFC membranes, TFCCHD exhibited the highest separation efficiency (pure water flux = 192.13 ± 7.11 L∙m−2∙h−1, dye rejection = 99.92 ± 0.10%, and NaCl rejection = 15.46 ± 1.68% at 6 bar and 1000 ppm salt or 50 ppm of dye solution). After exposure at 12,000 ppm∙h of active chlorine, the flux of TFCCHD was enhanced with maintained high dye rejection. Therefore, the TFCCHD membrane has a potential application for dye desalination process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes for Resource, Energy, and Water Recovery)
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15 pages, 2612 KiB  
Article
Efficient Phosphorus Recovery from Municipal Wastewater Using Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal in an Anaerobic/Anoxic/Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor and Magnesium-Based Pellets
by Elvis Eghombi, Hyunsik Kim, Yang-Hun Choi, Mi-Hwa Baek, Mallikarjuna N. Nadagouda, Pyung-Kyu Park and Soryong Chae
Membranes 2022, 12(2), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12020210 - 10 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3701
Abstract
Municipal wastewater has been identified as a potential source of natural phosphorus (P) that is projected to become depleted in a few decades based on current exploitation rates. This paper focuses on combining a bench-scale anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) and magnesium carbonate (MgCO [...] Read more.
Municipal wastewater has been identified as a potential source of natural phosphorus (P) that is projected to become depleted in a few decades based on current exploitation rates. This paper focuses on combining a bench-scale anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) and magnesium carbonate (MgCO3)-based pellets to effectively recover P from municipal wastewater. Ethanol was introduced into the anoxic zone of the MBR system as an external carbon source to improve P release via the enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) mechanism, making it available for adsorption by the continuous-flow MgCO3 pellet column. An increase in the concentration of P in the MBR effluent led to an increase in the P adsorption capacity of the MgCO3 pellets. As a result, the anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic MBR system, combined with a MgCO3 pellet column and ethanol, achieved 91.6% P recovery from municipal wastewater, resulting in a maximum P adsorption capacity of 12.8 mg P/g MgCO3 through the continuous-flow MgCO3 pellet column. Although the introduction of ethanol into the anoxic zone was instrumental in releasing P through the EBPR, it could potentially increase membrane fouling by increasing the concentration of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) in the anoxic zone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes for Resource, Energy, and Water Recovery)
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23 pages, 8655 KiB  
Article
A Biofouling Resistant Zwitterionic Polysulfone Membrane Prepared by a Dual-Bath Procedure
by Irish Valerie B. Maggay, Hana Nur Aini, Mary Madelaine G. Lagman, Shuo-Hsi Tang, Ruth R. Aquino, Yung Chang and Antoine Venault
Membranes 2022, 12(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12010069 - 4 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2826
Abstract
This study introduces a zwitterionic material to modify polysulfone (PSf) membranes formed by a dual bath procedure, in view of reducing their fouling propensity. The zwitterionic copolymer, derived from a random polymer of styrene and 4-vinylpyrridine and referred to as zP(S-r-4VP), [...] Read more.
This study introduces a zwitterionic material to modify polysulfone (PSf) membranes formed by a dual bath procedure, in view of reducing their fouling propensity. The zwitterionic copolymer, derived from a random polymer of styrene and 4-vinylpyrridine and referred to as zP(S-r-4VP), was incorporated to the PSf solution without any supplementary pore-forming additive to study the effect of the sole copolymer on membrane-structuring, chemical, and arising properties. XPS and mapping FT-IR provided evidence of the modification. Macrovoids appeared and then disappeared as the copolymer content increased in the range 1–4 wt%. The copolymer has hydrophilic units and its addition increases the casting solution viscosity. Both effects play an opposite role on transfers, and so on the growth of macrovoids. Biofouling tests demonstrated the efficiency of the copolymer to mitigate biofouling with a reduction in bacterial and blood cell attachment by more than 85%. Filtration tests revealed that the permeability increased by a twofold factor, the flux recovery ratio was augmented from 40% to 63% after water/BSA cycles, and irreversible fouling was reduced by 1/3. Although improvements are needed, these zwitterionic PSf membranes could be used in biomedical applications where resistance to biofouling by cells is a requirement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes for Resource, Energy, and Water Recovery)
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20 pages, 4336 KiB  
Article
Developing a Thin Film Composite Membrane with Hydrophilic Sulfonated Substrate on Nonwoven Backing Fabric Support for Forward Osmosis
by Soleyman Sahebi, Mohammad Kahrizi, Nasim Fadaie, Soheil Hadadpour, Bahman Ramavandi and Ralph Rolly Gonzales
Membranes 2021, 11(11), 813; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11110813 - 25 Oct 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3408
Abstract
This study describes the fabrication of sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) as a super-hydrophilic substrate for developing a composite forward osmosis (FO) membrane on a nonwoven backing fabric support. SPES was prepared through an indirect sulfonation procedure and then blended with PES at a certain [...] Read more.
This study describes the fabrication of sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) as a super-hydrophilic substrate for developing a composite forward osmosis (FO) membrane on a nonwoven backing fabric support. SPES was prepared through an indirect sulfonation procedure and then blended with PES at a certain ratio. Applying SPES as the substrate affected membrane properties, such as porosity, total thickness, morphology, and hydrophilicity. The PES-based FO membrane with a finger-like structure had lower performance in comparison with the SPES based FO membrane having a sponge-like structure. The finger-like morphology changed to a sponge-like morphology with the increase in the SPES concentration. The FO membrane based on a more hydrophilic substrate via sulfonation had a sponge morphology and showed better water flux results. Water flux of 26.1 L m−2 h−1 and specific reverse solute flux of 0.66 g L−1 were attained at a SPES blend ratio of 50 wt % when 3 M NaCl was used as the draw solution and DI water as feed solution under the FO mode. This work offers significant insights into understanding the factors affecting FO membrane performance, such as porosity and functionality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes for Resource, Energy, and Water Recovery)
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