Biomimetic cellulose-nanocrystalline-based composite membrane with high flux for efficient purification of oil-in-water emulsions

Jianfei Wu; Ziwei Cui; Yuxuan Su; Yang Yu; Bo Yue; Jundie Hu; Jiafu Qu; Dan Tian; Xianxu Zhan; Jianzhang Li; Yahui Cai

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130729

Biomimetic cellulose-nanocrystalline-based composite membrane with high flux for efficient purification of oil-in-water emulsions

J Hazard Mater. 2023 Mar 15:446:130729. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130729. Epub 2023 Jan 4.

Authors

Jianfei Wu¹, Ziwei Cui¹, Yuxuan Su¹, Yang Yu¹, Bo Yue¹, Jundie Hu², Jiafu Qu², Dan Tian¹, Xianxu Zhan³, Jianzhang Li⁴, Yahui Cai⁵

Affiliations

¹ Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, PR China.
² School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China.
³ Dehua Tubaobao New Decoration Material Co., Ltd., Huzhou 313200, PR China. Electronic address: zhan.xianxu@163.com.
⁴ Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, PR China; Key Laboratory of Wood Material Science and Application (Beijing Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, PR China. Electronic address: lijzh@bjfu.edu.cn.
⁵ Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, PR China; Dehua Tubaobao New Decoration Material Co., Ltd., Huzhou 313200, PR China. Electronic address: yhcai@njfu.edu.cn.

PMID: 36621295
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130729

Abstract

The massive discharge of oily wastewater and oil spills are causing serious pollution to water resources. It is urgent to require clean and efficient method of purifying oily emulsions. Although the separation membranes with selective wettability have been widely used in the efficient purification of oil/water emulsions. It is still very challenging to develop functional films that are environmentally friendly, fouling resistant, inexpensive, easy to prepare, easy to scale, and highly efficient. Cellulose nanocrystalline-based composite membranes (CCM) were prepared by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SATRP) and vacuum self-assembly. The prepared CCM is superhydrophilic and superoleophobic underwater due to the hydrophilic nature of the modified cellulose-nanocrystalline and the micro-nano surface structure. The CCM shows high separation efficiency (> 99.9 %), high flux (16,692 L^-1·m^-2·h^-1·bar^-1) for surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions, good cycle stability and anti-fouling performance. This biomass-derived membrane is green, cheap, easy to manufacture, scalable, super-wettability, and durability, it promises to be an alternative to separation membranes in today's market.

Keywords: Biomimetic separation membranes; Block polymer; Functional cellulose nanocrystalline; High flux; Surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions.