Scientists create a membrane that purifies water at record speed

New method offers promising solutions to water treatment problems by significantly increasing the speed and efficiency of membrane production. A research team from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has developed a new approach that uses microwave technology to more easily synthesize and fine-tune a new type of membrane that effectively cleans water of a wide range of contaminants.

The membrane synthesis technique takes minutes, making it one of the fastest methods for creating covalent organic framework (COF) membranes. These membranes can act as filters in devices designed to remove specific contaminants from contaminated water, allowing the water to be reused for a variety of purposes—a significant discovery at a time when effective wastewater treatment is vital in a world threatened by water scarcity.

Characterized by unique superhydrophilic and almost hydrophobic surfaces, the new type of double-sided membrane ensures the effective removal of contaminants such as oils and dyes from water. This dual function not only improves the filtration process, but also gives the membranes strong antibacterial properties, which are crucial for long-term use and performance.

Research details and methodology

Published place Journal of the American Chemical Society The study, titled “Tunable wettability of double-sided COF membrane for enhanced water filtration,” presents this new approach developed by Farah Benyetu and Asmaa Djrad under the supervision of Ali Trabolsi, professor of chemistry and Co-Principal Investigator of the NYUAD Center for Water Research. The team’s method involves a one-step microwave synthesis that occurs at the liquid-water vapor interface, allowing for precise control of membrane properties without the need for further modification.

“By fine-tuning the reaction time, we can control the thickness of the membrane and its hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties,” Benietu explained. “This ability allows us to specifically tailor the membrane to different types of water contaminants, greatly increasing both the efficiency and speed of water purification,” Jarad explained.

The COF membranes developed by the NYU Abu Dhabi team exhibit excellent oil-in-water removal performance from oil-in-water mixtures and have exceptional water flux due to their multilayer structure and stable porosity. They are also superior to traditional polymer membranes in terms of resistance to organic fouling, a common problem in membrane-based water filtration systems.

This technology represents a significant advance in the synthesis of high-quality crystalline free-standing COF membranes. “Our method not only simplifies the fabrication process but also improves the solubility of the membranes, providing a promising solution to critical water treatment problems worldwide,” Trabolsi added.