Silk-based nanofiltration membrane can purify water 10 times faster than commercial methods

A analysis staff led by Professor Chuyang Tang, Chair Professor from the Division of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering on the College of Hong Kong (HKU), has developed a novel nanofiltration membrane utilizing pure silk that would remodel the method of water purification and remedy.

Nanofiltration membranes are broadly utilized in functions corresponding to industrial wastewater processing, remedy or water filtration at dwelling. They will take away a variety of contaminants together with heavy metals, organic moleculesand microorganisms, whereas permitting water and useful mineral ions (corresponding to Ca²⁺Mg²⁺) to move by means of.

Nevertheless, the present method has a significant downside. It requires extraordinarily excessive stress, as much as 10 bar (10 occasions the conventional atmospheric stress), making the method energy-intensive and costly, with additionally the necessity for cumbersome gear.

To sort out this downside, Professor Chuyang Tang and his staff developed a silk-based nanofiltration membrane that may obtain water purification at a lot decrease stress, the truth is utilizing a partial vacuum (< 1 bar) as an alternative of excessive stress.

In exams, the silk membrane achieved a water movement fee of 56.8 liters per sq. meter per hour, at a vacuum stress of lower than 1 bar. Whereas permitting useful minerals to move by means of, this membrane rejects over 99% of organic pollutants in water, e.g., the infamous perfluorinated compounds—additionally broadly often called ceaselessly compounds, which have induced international considerations over their toxicity and persistence.

“Our new silk-based membrane is a game-changer,” stated Professor Tang. “It can filter water nearly 10 times faster than classic commercial nanofiltration membranes, while still efficiently removing harmful contaminants. And it can do this using just a light vacuum suction, not intense pressure.”

The silk “ultra-permeable membrane” is sustainable and extremely cost-saving, reducing vitality consumption by round 80% in comparison with typical nanofiltration methods. Prof Tang’s staff has obtained a patent for the ground-breaking discovery, which was not too long ago published within the journal Nature Communicationsin an article entitled “Ultra-permeable Silk-based Polymeric Membranes for Vacuum-driven Nanofiltration.”

“Silk is an incredible materials—sturdy, versatile, and eco-friendly. We have harnessed its unique properties to push the boundaries of water purification,” defined Mr. Bowen Gan, the primary writer of the journal article and a Ph.D. pupil supervised by Professor Tang.