Absolute film separation of dyes/salts and emulsions with a superhigh water permeance through graded nanofluidic channels

Mater Horiz. 2022 May 10;9(5):1536-1542. doi: 10.1039/d2mh00046f.

Abstract

The development of multifunctional films with a high permeability has been of great concern for effective separation of complex aqueous contaminants, especially in the face of zero or near-zero release regulations. Inspired by the natural structure of sandy soils, polydopamine-wrapped/connected polypyrrole sub-micron spheres (PPSM) were closely packed onto a polypyrrole-coated bacterial cellulose (PBC) support, by which a new two-layered PBC/PPSM composite film formed with graded nanofluidic channels. Interestingly, after being soaked in complex water environments of ethanol, acids, bases, heat, cold and high salinity, or else bended/folded for more than 10 times, the structure and performance of this film still stayed the same, validating its high structural stability and flexibility. Even in a high salinity environment over seawater, this PBC/PPSM film exhibits a dye-separation capacity of almost 100% with a surprisingly superhigh water permeance over one thousand L h-1 m-2 bar-1, one or two magnitudes higher than that of the related films reported in the literature. Meanwhile, the ability for effective oil-water-separation was also validated. Besides the superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity, the synapse-like-structure-induced graded nanofluidic channels are also proposed to play a key role for rendering such an outstandingly comprehensive performance of the film by greatly overcoming fluid resistance and reducing permeation viscosity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cellulose / chemistry
  • Coloring Agents
  • Emulsions
  • Polymers*
  • Pyrroles
  • Salts
  • Water* / chemistry

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Emulsions
  • Polymers
  • Pyrroles
  • Salts
  • Water
  • Cellulose