Credit: The University of Hong Kong
Transforming Water Treatment with Innovative Silk Membranes
A groundbreaking advancement in water purification has emerged from a research initiative led by Professor Chuyang Tang, a distinguished professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). This innovative project has resulted in a state-of-the-art nanofiltration membrane crafted from natural silk, which holds promise for revolutionizing water treatment methods.
The Role and Challenges of Nanofiltration Membranes
Nanofiltration membranes are integral to various applications such as domestic water filtration and industrial wastewater management. They effectively eliminate an extensive range of pollutants, including heavy metals, organic compounds, and microorganisms, while permitting vital mineral ions like calcium and magnesium to flow through.
Despite their efficiency, traditional nanofiltration techniques are energy-intensive due to the requirement for high operational pressures—often reaching up to 10 bar (ten times higher than normal atmospheric pressure)—which also translates into considerable costs and cumbersome equipment setup.
Pioneering Silk-Based Technology
Professor Tang’s team addressed these challenges by creating a silk-derived nanofiltration membrane capable of purifying water using significantly lower pressures achieved through partial vacuum conditions. During experimental evaluations, this silk membrane demonstrated an impressive throughput rate of 56.8 liters per square meter per hour at vacuum levels below 1 bar. Remarkably, while it allows beneficial minerals to pass freely through its structure, it successfully rejects over 99% of organic contaminants like perfluorinated compounds—hazardous substances notorious for their durability and toxicity in the environment.
Credit: Adapted from Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53042-6
A Revolutionary Approach to Efficient Filtration
“Our new silk-based membrane represents a significant leap forward,” stated Professor Tang enthusiastically. “It facilitates nearly tenfold faster filtration compared to existing commercial membranes while maintaining effective contaminant removal—all accomplished with minimal vacuum suction rather than excessive pressure.”
This advanced “ultra-permeable membrane” not only enhances sustainability but also conserves energy significantly by reducing consumption by approximately 80% compared to typical nanofiltration systems available today. The innovation has garnered patent protection and was detailed recently in an academic article within the journal Nature Communications titled “Ultra-permeable Silk-based Polymeric Membranes for Vacuum-driven Nanofiltration.”
“Silk is truly an extraordinary material—it’s robust yet elastic and environmentally friendly,” remarked Mr. Bowen Gan, lead author on the publication and Ph.D. candidate mentored by Professor Tang as they explored this phase-changing technology’s potential impact on global water filtration practices.
Further Reading:
Bowen Gan et al., Ultra-permeable silk-based polymeric membranes for vacuum-driven nanofiltration under Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53042-6
Provided by
The University of Hong Kong
Citation:
This research highlights that a newly developed silk-based filtering membrane can purify water up to ten times faster than current commercial techniques available as reported on January 7th, 2025.
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The post Revolutionary Silk-Based Nanofiltration: Purifying Water 10 Times Faster than Conventional Methods! first appeared on Tech News.
Author : Tech-News Team
Publish date : 2025-01-08 15:49:14
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