Optimizing the structural and physicochemical attributes of monovalent cation perm-selective membranes (MCPMs) is crucial to achieve high selectivity, flux, and durability, which are essential for the efficient extraction of lithium through electrodialysis from salt-lake brines with a high Mg2+/Li+ ratio. In this study, MCPMs derived from sulfonated poly(aryl ether sulfone) (SPAES) first were solution cast and subsequently coated with quaternized poly(aryl ether sulfone) (QPAES). The modification layer of QPAES was simply adjusted by varying the ion exchange capacity (IEC) level and the number of coating applications. Their selectivity, flux and stability were systematically evaluated. The results demonstrate that for the SPAES/Q-1.17-3 membrane, which has a modified layer of IEC 1.17 mmol/g and 3 times of coating, the selectivity of Li+/Mg2+ is above 1000, while concurrently achieving a Li+ flux of 0.167 mol/(m2 h). Additionally, the perm-selectivity remained virtually unchanged over five cycling tests, thereby showcasing its considerable potential for ion separation.
{"title":"Fabrication of monovalent cation perm-selective membranes via quaternized poly(aryl ether sulfone) modification for efficient Li+/Mg2+ separation","authors":"Shuting Zhang, Yunxiang Ouyang, Khalznkhuu Otgonlkhagva, Jiaze Li, Jialin Lv, Na Li, Zhaoxia Hu, Shouwen Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119971","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119971","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Optimizing the structural and physicochemical attributes of monovalent cation perm-selective membranes (MCPMs) is crucial to achieve high selectivity, flux, and durability, which are essential for the efficient extraction of lithium through electrodialysis from salt-lake brines with a high Mg<sup>2+</sup>/Li<sup>+</sup> ratio. In this study, MCPMs derived from sulfonated poly(aryl ether sulfone) (SPAES) first were solution cast and subsequently coated with quaternized poly(aryl ether sulfone) (QPAES). The modification layer of QPAES was simply adjusted by varying the ion exchange capacity (IEC) level and the number of coating applications. Their selectivity, flux and stability were systematically evaluated. The results demonstrate that for the SPAES/Q-1.17-3 membrane, which has a modified layer of IEC 1.17 mmol/g and 3 times of coating, the selectivity of Li<sup>+</sup>/Mg<sup>2+</sup> is above 1000, while concurrently achieving a Li<sup>+</sup> flux of 0.167 mol/(m<sup>2</sup> h). Additionally, the perm-selectivity remained virtually unchanged over five cycling tests, thereby showcasing its considerable potential for ion separation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":299,"journal":{"name":"Desalination","volume":"625 ","pages":"Article 119971"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146186379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2026.119955
Xianshuang Zhu , Wenjie Li , Abdul Haleem , Hao Li
Recycling gold from e-waste mitigates pollution and delivers greater economic benefits than extracting it from ore. This study reports the first fabrication of a customizable macroporous thiourea-based adsorbent via low-temperature UV-assisted ice-templated polymerization, an approach that enables simple, time-efficient, and large-scale production. With exceptional structural properties (16.36 g g−1 water uptake, 92.33% porosity, 5.209 m2 g−1 total pore area), the adsorbent exhibits superior Au(III) adsorption: maximum capacity of 2558.7 ± 35.7 mg g−1 at pH 4 and 318 K (800 mg L−1 Au(III)), fitting the Freundlich model. It retains high performance after heat/acid/alkali treatments, achieving >98% Au(III) removal in spiked actual leachate and 1679.2 ± 16.3 mg g−1 saturated capacity. XPS confirms Au(III) adsorption via allylthiourea groups, while sponge-like metallic gold formation post-calcination validates thiourea's reduction capability. This adsorbent offers outstanding Au(III) affinity, selectivity, and extreme-condition stability, providing a reliable basis for harsh industrial precious metal recovery and valuable insights for soft polymeric materials in environmental applications.
与从矿石中提取黄金相比，从电子垃圾中回收黄金可以减轻污染，并带来更大的经济效益。本研究报告首次通过低温紫外线辅助冰模板聚合制备了可定制的大孔硫脲基吸附剂，这种方法可以实现简单、高效和大规模的生产。该吸附剂具有优异的结构性能（吸水性为16.36 g g−1，孔隙率为92.33%，总孔面积为5.209 m2 g−1），对Au（III）具有优异的吸附性能：在pH为4，温度为318 K （800 mg L−1 Au(III)）时，最大吸附量为2558.7±35.7 mg g−1，符合Freundlich模型。经过热/酸/碱处理后，它仍保持高性能，在加标的实际渗滤液中达到98%的Au（III）去除率和1679.2±16.3 mg g−1的饱和容量。XPS证实了金（III）通过烯丙基硫脲基团吸附，而焙烧后形成的海绵状金属金证实了硫脲的还原能力。这种吸附剂具有出色的Au（III）亲和力、选择性和极端条件稳定性，为苛刻的工业贵金属回收提供了可靠的基础，并为环境应用中的软聚合物材料提供了宝贵的见解。
{"title":"Cryo-engineered macroporous adsorbent with synergistic adsorption-reduction for efficient gold recovery from e-waste","authors":"Xianshuang Zhu , Wenjie Li , Abdul Haleem , Hao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119955","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119955","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recycling gold from e-waste mitigates pollution and delivers greater economic benefits than extracting it from ore. This study reports the first fabrication of a customizable macroporous thiourea-based adsorbent via low-temperature UV-assisted ice-templated polymerization, an approach that enables simple, time-efficient, and large-scale production. With exceptional structural properties (16.36 g g<sup>−1</sup> water uptake, 92.33% porosity, 5.209 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup> total pore area), the adsorbent exhibits superior Au(III) adsorption: maximum capacity of 2558.7 ± 35.7 mg g<sup>−1</sup> at pH 4 and 318 K (800 mg L<sup>−1</sup> Au(III)), fitting the Freundlich model. It retains high performance after heat/acid/alkali treatments, achieving >98% Au(III) removal in spiked actual leachate and 1679.2 ± 16.3 mg g<sup>−1</sup> saturated capacity. XPS confirms Au(III) adsorption via allylthiourea groups, while sponge-like metallic gold formation post-calcination validates thiourea's reduction capability. This adsorbent offers outstanding Au(III) affinity, selectivity, and extreme-condition stability, providing a reliable basis for harsh industrial precious metal recovery and valuable insights for soft polymeric materials in environmental applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":299,"journal":{"name":"Desalination","volume":"625 ","pages":"Article 119955"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146186399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Water scarcity is one of the most critical global challenges, and with growing demand for freshwater, desalination has emerged as a promising solution. However, conventional desalination technologies are limited by high energy consumption, substantial capital costs and environmental concerns. As an alternative, biological desalination has been gained attention as an efficient and eco-friendly method. In this study, microalgae-based desalination using Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) was investigated as a sustainable approach to reduce seawater salinity. Mixtures of seawater and BG-11 culture medium were prepared in different ratios, and the effect of algal inoculation levels (10%, 15%, and 20%) on cell growth and desalination performance was evaluated over 21-day period. Optical density (OD) and biomass dry weight were measured as growth indicators, while total dissolved solids (TDS) served as the desalination parameter. The results of a steady increment in OD across all samples confirmed the adaptation of C. vulgaris to the saline conditions. The highest OD (1.744) was obtained for the 15% inoculation on day 21. Significant reductions in TDS were achieved for all treatments, with greater desalination at higher inoculation levels. The maximum reduction occurred with the 20% inoculation on day 13, reaching 32% and 30% for the 75% and 100% seawater treatments, respectively. The results were further supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses. Overall, C. vulgaris demonstrated strong potential as an environmentally friendly and innovative strategy for seawater desalination, providing a sustainable complement to conventional methods and new opportunities in industrial water treatment.
{"title":"Growth behavior and desalination performance of Chlorella vulgaris under different seawater concentrations","authors":"Azin Nematkhah , Maryam Nazarinia , Toraj Mohammadi , Soheil Zarghami , Mehdi Mohammadi","doi":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119951","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119951","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water scarcity is one of the most critical global challenges, and with growing demand for freshwater, desalination has emerged as a promising solution. However, conventional desalination technologies are limited by high energy consumption, substantial capital costs and environmental concerns. As an alternative, biological desalination has been gained attention as an efficient and eco-friendly method. In this study, microalgae-based desalination using <em>Chlorella vulgaris</em> (<em>C. vulgaris</em>) was investigated as a sustainable approach to reduce seawater salinity. Mixtures of seawater and BG-11 culture medium were prepared in different ratios, and the effect of algal inoculation levels (10%, 15%, and 20%) on cell growth and desalination performance was evaluated over 21-day period. Optical density (OD) and biomass dry weight were measured as growth indicators, while total dissolved solids (TDS) served as the desalination parameter. The results of a steady increment in OD across all samples confirmed the adaptation of <em>C. vulgaris</em> to the saline conditions. The highest OD (1.744) was obtained for the 15% inoculation on day 21. Significant reductions in TDS were achieved for all treatments, with greater desalination at higher inoculation levels. The maximum reduction occurred with the 20% inoculation on day 13, reaching 32% and 30% for the 75% and 100% seawater treatments, respectively. The results were further supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses. Overall, <em>C. vulgaris</em> demonstrated strong potential as an environmentally friendly and innovative strategy for seawater desalination, providing a sustainable complement to conventional methods and new opportunities in industrial water treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":299,"journal":{"name":"Desalination","volume":"625 ","pages":"Article 119951"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146186462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2026.119885
Hongshan Xu , Junqi Wang , Xinmiao Hou , Xiaobo Feng , Yuhao Yan , Liangjuan Ouyang , Yue Wang
To reduce the effect of energy loss caused by RERD on SWRO desalination system, the LP single-driving RERD with inner shaft supporting is innovatively proposed with a rated operating pressure of 6.0 MPa and capacity of 15.0 m3/h. Firstly, compared with outer sleeve supporting, the inner shaft supporting exhibits lower resisting moment. Compared with double-driving, LP single-driving with lower HP pressure loss performs lower driving moment to match the inner shaft supporting. Secondly, the backflow ratio is reduced by firstly decreasing the central angle of driving-flow part from 67.50° to 33.75°and secondly moving the LP brine nozzle close to the driving-flow part. As the result, the backflow optimization reduces the LP pressure loss and volumetric mixing. Additionally, increasing the rotor length from 100 mm to 150 mm further reduces the still high volumetric mixing. Finally, over the optimum flowrate range of 8.2 m3/h-17.1 m3/h, the LP single-driving RERD after structure optimization performs the volumetric mixing of 0.85%–2.03% and the energy recovery efficiency range of 97.9%–98.8%. The competitive performances of LP single-driving RERD compared to commercial products exhibit the potential for reducing the energy consumption of SWRO desalination system from the perspective of ERD.
{"title":"LP single-driving RERD with inner shaft supporting for SWRO desalination system: structure design and performance optimization","authors":"Hongshan Xu , Junqi Wang , Xinmiao Hou , Xiaobo Feng , Yuhao Yan , Liangjuan Ouyang , Yue Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119885","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119885","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To reduce the effect of energy loss caused by RERD on SWRO desalination system, the LP single-driving RERD with inner shaft supporting is innovatively proposed with a rated operating pressure of 6.0 MPa and capacity of 15.0 m<sup>3</sup>/h. Firstly, compared with outer sleeve supporting, the inner shaft supporting exhibits lower resisting moment. Compared with double-driving, LP single-driving with lower HP pressure loss performs lower driving moment to match the inner shaft supporting. Secondly, the backflow ratio is reduced by firstly decreasing the central angle of driving-flow part from 67.50° to 33.75°and secondly moving the LP brine nozzle close to the driving-flow part. As the result, the backflow optimization reduces the LP pressure loss and volumetric mixing. Additionally, increasing the rotor length from 100 mm to 150 mm further reduces the still high volumetric mixing. Finally, over the optimum flowrate range of 8.2 m<sup>3</sup>/h-17.1 m<sup>3</sup>/h, the LP single-driving RERD after structure optimization performs the volumetric mixing of 0.85%–2.03% and the energy recovery efficiency range of 97.9%–98.8%. The competitive performances of LP single-driving RERD compared to commercial products exhibit the potential for reducing the energy consumption of SWRO desalination system from the perspective of ERD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":299,"journal":{"name":"Desalination","volume":"625 ","pages":"Article 119885"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2026.119938
Victoria Carnero-Roldan , Adrián Licari , Alejandro López-Chías , Ángela Fernández-Merino , Fabio La Mantia , Rafael Trócoli
Finding alternative extraction sources of principal components for the manufacturing of Li-ion batteries has become of great interest owing to the ubiquitous presence of this storage system, from mobile to electric vehicles. Battery recycling has the potential to reduce reliance on conventional raw sources; however, current technologies suffer from numerous drawbacks, including environmental issues and low selectivity. The use of an intercalation material, a Prussian Blue Analogue, for the recovery of multivalent cations (Ni2+ and Co2+) from spent Li-ion batteries is demonstrated for the first time in this work. Firstly, the capacity of the material to intercalate the cations of interest in aqueous media was proven by a combination of electrochemical, structural, and composition analysis of the electrode and electrolyte, subsequently a novel electrochemical approach to extract Ni and Co from a NMC leachate was developed, being able to produce a recovered solution with a purity of 99.99% in Ni and Co in a single step owing to the extraordinary selectivity of Nickel Hexacyanoferrate towards these cations. These performances, combined with the reversibility of the material and the well-known low cost of Prussian Blue Analogues, open a promising new alternative for battery recycling.
{"title":"Multivalent intercalation in Prussian blue analogues as a novel recovery method from spent Li-ion batteries","authors":"Victoria Carnero-Roldan , Adrián Licari , Alejandro López-Chías , Ángela Fernández-Merino , Fabio La Mantia , Rafael Trócoli","doi":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119938","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119938","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Finding alternative extraction sources of principal components for the manufacturing of Li-ion batteries has become of great interest owing to the ubiquitous presence of this storage system, from mobile to electric vehicles. Battery recycling has the potential to reduce reliance on conventional raw sources; however, current technologies suffer from numerous drawbacks, including environmental issues and low selectivity. The use of an intercalation material, a Prussian Blue Analogue, for the recovery of multivalent cations (Ni<sup>2+</sup> and Co<sup>2+</sup>) from spent Li-ion batteries is demonstrated for the first time in this work. Firstly, the capacity of the material to intercalate the cations of interest in aqueous media was proven by a combination of electrochemical, structural, and composition analysis of the electrode and electrolyte, subsequently a novel electrochemical approach to extract Ni and Co from a NMC leachate was developed, being able to produce a recovered solution with a purity of 99.99% in Ni and Co in a single step owing to the extraordinary selectivity of Nickel Hexacyanoferrate towards these cations. These performances, combined with the reversibility of the material and the well-known low cost of Prussian Blue Analogues, open a promising new alternative for battery recycling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":299,"journal":{"name":"Desalination","volume":"625 ","pages":"Article 119938"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146186122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2026.119923
Xin-Xi Ding , Cheng Jiang , Jia-Wang Wang , Zi-Hui Wu , Rui Luo , Yue Zhao , Yue Wang , Dan-Dan Shao
Driven by the rapid expansion of the battery industry, lithium extraction from salt lake brines has emerged as a promising strategy to address the growing global demand for lithium. However, the selective separation of Li+ from Mg2+ remains difficult due to their similar hydrated radii and the typically high Mg2+/Li+ ratios in natural brines. Polymeric nanofiltration membranes provide an attractive approach for selective ion separation by tuning surface charge and pore size, enabling low-pressure operation and continuous processing. Herein, we present a sustainable strategy that incorporates biomass-derived waste jujube extract (JE), rich in functional moieties such as polyphenols and carboxylic groups, into the interfacial polymerization process to construct sub-nanometer channels in nanofiltration membranes. This bio-based modification effectively regulates membrane structure and surface chemistry, significantly enhancing water permeability (8.96 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1) and Li+/Mg2+ selectivity (up to 38.28). The resulting membranes exhibit excellent long-term stability, maintaining separation performance over 60 h of continuous operation. This work provides new insights into designing functionalized sub-nanometer channels for precise ion sieving and offers a green and cost-effective approach to valorizing agricultural biomass for the development of high-performance nanofiltration membranes.
{"title":"Biomass-derived modifiers customize polymeric nanofiltration membranes for enhanced lithium/magnesium ion selectivity","authors":"Xin-Xi Ding , Cheng Jiang , Jia-Wang Wang , Zi-Hui Wu , Rui Luo , Yue Zhao , Yue Wang , Dan-Dan Shao","doi":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119923","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119923","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Driven by the rapid expansion of the battery industry, lithium extraction from salt lake brines has emerged as a promising strategy to address the growing global demand for lithium. However, the selective separation of Li<sup>+</sup> from Mg<sup>2+</sup> remains difficult due to their similar hydrated radii and the typically high Mg<sup>2+</sup>/Li<sup>+</sup> ratios in natural brines. Polymeric nanofiltration membranes provide an attractive approach for selective ion separation by tuning surface charge and pore size, enabling low-pressure operation and continuous processing. Herein, we present a sustainable strategy that incorporates biomass-derived waste <em>jujube</em> extract (JE), rich in functional moieties such as polyphenols and carboxylic groups, into the interfacial polymerization process to construct sub-nanometer channels in nanofiltration membranes. This bio-based modification effectively regulates membrane structure and surface chemistry, significantly enhancing water permeability (8.96 L·m<sup>−2</sup>·h<sup>−1</sup>·bar<sup>−1</sup>) and Li<sup>+</sup>/Mg<sup>2+</sup> selectivity (up to 38.28). The resulting membranes exhibit excellent long-term stability, maintaining separation performance over 60 h of continuous operation. This work provides new insights into designing functionalized sub-nanometer channels for precise ion sieving and offers a green and cost-effective approach to valorizing agricultural biomass for the development of high-performance nanofiltration membranes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":299,"journal":{"name":"Desalination","volume":"625 ","pages":"Article 119923"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146186123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2026.119943
Yawei Du , Mengru Cui , Jingxin Wei , Yanping Li , Yize Liu , Shizhao Wang , Zhiyong Ji
The inadequate boron removal performance of Polyamide (PA) based reverse osmosis (RO) membrane is one of the bottlenecks restricting its use as drinking water. Therefore, it is of importance to investigate the trans-membrane mechanism of PA membranes at the atomic level. In this work, an all-atom solution-membrane-pure water sandwich RO model was built. Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations were employed to explore the transmembrane behaviors of water, ions, H₃BO₃, H₄BO₄−, and D-gluconate borate complex (referred to Complex). The influences of transmembrane pressure difference, temperature, and chlorination of the PA membrane were investigated. The results indicate that an increase in transmembrane pressure difference and feed temperature facilitates the RO process by increasing the diffusion coefficients of all components. Both factors reduce the number of hydrogen bonds between boron-containing species and water while increasing those with the PA membrane, which benefits water molecule permeation. Pressure difference has little effect on salt rejection but impacts boron rejection ability, whereas higher temperatures decrease salt rejection. Chlorination enlarges PA membrane pores and increases component diffusivity, while weakening interactions with both water and boron species (H₃BO₃ and H₄BO₄−) and reducing associated hydrogen bonding. These changes enhance water permeability but affect boron rejection differently: H₃BO₃ rejection remains less impacted due to its weak membrane affinity, whereas H₄BO₄− rejection declines markedly as chlorination disrupts its strong electrostatic/hydrogen-bonding interaction with the membrane. Among boron species, Complex exhibits the highest removal rate and is least affected by these factors, leading to the recommendation of adding polyhydroxylic substances to form hydroxyl borate complexes for optimal boron removal.
{"title":"Molecular dynamics simulation of polyamide based reverse osmosis for boron removal","authors":"Yawei Du , Mengru Cui , Jingxin Wei , Yanping Li , Yize Liu , Shizhao Wang , Zhiyong Ji","doi":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119943","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119943","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The inadequate boron removal performance of Polyamide (PA) based reverse osmosis (RO) membrane is one of the bottlenecks restricting its use as drinking water. Therefore, it is of importance to investigate the trans-membrane mechanism of PA membranes at the atomic level. In this work, an all-atom solution-membrane-pure water sandwich RO model was built. Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations were employed to explore the transmembrane behaviors of water, ions, H₃BO₃, H₄BO₄<sup>−</sup>, and D-gluconate borate complex (referred to Complex). The influences of transmembrane pressure difference, temperature, and chlorination of the PA membrane were investigated. The results indicate that an increase in transmembrane pressure difference and feed temperature facilitates the RO process by increasing the diffusion coefficients of all components. Both factors reduce the number of hydrogen bonds between boron-containing species and water while increasing those with the PA membrane, which benefits water molecule permeation. Pressure difference has little effect on salt rejection but impacts boron rejection ability, whereas higher temperatures decrease salt rejection. Chlorination enlarges PA membrane pores and increases component diffusivity, while weakening interactions with both water and boron species (H₃BO₃ and H₄BO₄<sup>−</sup>) and reducing associated hydrogen bonding. These changes enhance water permeability but affect boron rejection differently: H₃BO₃ rejection remains less impacted due to its weak membrane affinity, whereas H₄BO₄<sup>−</sup> rejection declines markedly as chlorination disrupts its strong electrostatic/hydrogen-bonding interaction with the membrane. Among boron species, Complex exhibits the highest removal rate and is least affected by these factors, leading to the recommendation of adding polyhydroxylic substances to form hydroxyl borate complexes for optimal boron removal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":299,"journal":{"name":"Desalination","volume":"625 ","pages":"Article 119943"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146186397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2026.119940
Jiale Zhou , Yangning Zhao , Haiyu Dong , Yi Mi , Yun Zhang
Osmotic energy, as a clean and renewable energy source derived from the salinity gradient between seawater and river water, holds great potential for alleviating global energy shortages. However, the development of high-performance nanofluidic membranes with both high ion selectivity and ion flux remains a critical bottleneck for its practical application. Herein, we report a sulfonated cellulose nanofibers (SCNF) membranes constructed with three-dimensional (3D) nanochannels featuring high charge density and pore density (2 × 1010 cm−2). Under a 50-fold salinity gradient, the SCNF membrane exhibits an exceptional cation selectivity of up to 0.977. These superior ion transport properties directly translate into outstanding osmotic energy conversion performance: the maximum power densities reach 14.85 W m−2 and 111.06 W m−2 under 50-fold and 500-fold concentration gradients, respectively. Notably, the SCNF membrane maintains its power density stably for 60 days, demonstrating remarkable long-term operational durability. When mixing seawater and real river, the membrane achieves a maximum output power density of up to 16.37 W m−2; even upon scaling up the active testing area to 7.07 mm2, a considerable output power density of 1.64 W m−2 is still attained. This work provides a promising green membrane material for advancing the commercialization of osmotic energy technology.
渗透能作为一种从海水和河水之间的盐度梯度中提取的清洁可再生能源，在缓解全球能源短缺方面具有巨大潜力。然而，高离子选择性和高离子通量的高性能纳米流控膜的开发仍然是其实际应用的关键瓶颈。在此，我们报道了一种由三维（3D）纳米通道构建的磺化纤维素纳米纤维（SCNF）膜，具有高电荷密度和孔隙密度（2 × 1010 cm−2）。在50倍盐度梯度下，SCNF膜的阳离子选择性高达0.977。这些优异的离子传输性能直接转化为优异的渗透能转换性能：在50倍和500倍浓度梯度下，最大功率密度分别达到14.85 W m−2和111.06 W m−2。值得注意的是，SCNF膜可在60天内稳定保持其功率密度，表现出卓越的长期运行耐久性。当与真实河水混合时，膜的最大输出功率密度可达16.37 W m−2；即使将有效测试区域扩大到7.07 mm2，仍然可以获得1.64 W m−2的可观输出功率密度。本研究为推进渗透能技术的商业化提供了一种有前景的绿色膜材料。
{"title":"High-strength sulfonated cellulose nanofiber membranes with high pore density for efficient osmotic power generation","authors":"Jiale Zhou , Yangning Zhao , Haiyu Dong , Yi Mi , Yun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119940","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119940","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Osmotic energy, as a clean and renewable energy source derived from the salinity gradient between seawater and river water, holds great potential for alleviating global energy shortages. However, the development of high-performance nanofluidic membranes with both high ion selectivity and ion flux remains a critical bottleneck for its practical application. Herein, we report a sulfonated cellulose nanofibers (SCNF) membranes constructed with three-dimensional (3D) nanochannels featuring high charge density and pore density (2 × 10<sup>10</sup> cm<sup>−2</sup>). Under a 50-fold salinity gradient, the SCNF membrane exhibits an exceptional cation selectivity of up to 0.977. These superior ion transport properties directly translate into outstanding osmotic energy conversion performance: the maximum power densities reach 14.85 W m<sup>−2</sup> and 111.06 W m<sup>−2</sup> under 50-fold and 500-fold concentration gradients, respectively. Notably, the SCNF membrane maintains its power density stably for 60 days, demonstrating remarkable long-term operational durability. When mixing seawater and real river, the membrane achieves a maximum output power density of up to 16.37 W m<sup>−2</sup>; even upon scaling up the active testing area to 7.07 mm<sup>2</sup>, a considerable output power density of 1.64 W m<sup>−2</sup> is still attained. This work provides a promising green membrane material for advancing the commercialization of osmotic energy technology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":299,"journal":{"name":"Desalination","volume":"625 ","pages":"Article 119940"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146186452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2026.119935
Masoud Rahbari-Sisakht , Ahmad Fauzi Ismail , Pei Sean Goh , Mohd Sohaimi Abdullah , Yanuardi Raharjo
Global shortages of safe water continue to push research beyond standard purification practices, especially where energy use and removal efficiency matter. Membrane separation is widely used. Still, common polymer membranes face clear limits, including the permeability–selectivity trade-off, fouling, and gradual loss of performance during long operation. Two-dimensional nanomaterials are being studied as alternative membrane components because their sheets are only atoms thick, their lateral size is large, and their surface chemistry can be adjusted. These traits change how water and ions move across a membrane. This review examines recent progress in water purification membranes that incorporate 2D materials such as graphene oxide, MXenes, transition metal dichalcogenides like MoS₂, hexagonal boron nitride, and layered double hydroxides. Attention is given to transport mechanisms that control separation behavior. These include diffusion through slit-like channels between stacked layers, control of interlayer spacing, transport through engineered nanopores, steric size exclusion, electrostatic interactions at charged surfaces, and Donnan-type exclusion effects. Fabrication routes are discussed in detail, with focus on mixed-matrix membranes, thin-film nanocomposites, and laminated multilayer structures, alongside their links to flux, rejection, scalability, and stability during operation. Performance comparisons with commercial membranes are presented to show where 2D-based systems outperform existing materials and where problems remain, especially regarding fouling resistance, mechanical strength, and long-term durability. Key barriers to practical deployment are identified. These include swelling in aqueous environments, loss of structural order, difficulty controlling defects, and reduced selectivity in complex water compositions. The discussion closes by outlining research directions aimed at improving reliability and translating laboratory results into workable membrane technologies for water purification.
{"title":"Two-dimensional nanomaterials in membrane-based water purification: Advances, challenges, and future perspectives","authors":"Masoud Rahbari-Sisakht , Ahmad Fauzi Ismail , Pei Sean Goh , Mohd Sohaimi Abdullah , Yanuardi Raharjo","doi":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119935","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119935","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Global shortages of safe water continue to push research beyond standard purification practices, especially where energy use and removal efficiency matter. Membrane separation is widely used. Still, common polymer membranes face clear limits, including the permeability–selectivity trade-off, fouling, and gradual loss of performance during long operation. Two-dimensional nanomaterials are being studied as alternative membrane components because their sheets are only atoms thick, their lateral size is large, and their surface chemistry can be adjusted. These traits change how water and ions move across a membrane. This review examines recent progress in water purification membranes that incorporate 2D materials such as graphene oxide, MXenes, transition metal dichalcogenides like MoS₂, hexagonal boron nitride, and layered double hydroxides. Attention is given to transport mechanisms that control separation behavior. These include diffusion through slit-like channels between stacked layers, control of interlayer spacing, transport through engineered nanopores, steric size exclusion, electrostatic interactions at charged surfaces, and Donnan-type exclusion effects. Fabrication routes are discussed in detail, with focus on mixed-matrix membranes, thin-film nanocomposites, and laminated multilayer structures, alongside their links to flux, rejection, scalability, and stability during operation. Performance comparisons with commercial membranes are presented to show where 2D-based systems outperform existing materials and where problems remain, especially regarding fouling resistance, mechanical strength, and long-term durability. Key barriers to practical deployment are identified. These include swelling in aqueous environments, loss of structural order, difficulty controlling defects, and reduced selectivity in complex water compositions. The discussion closes by outlining research directions aimed at improving reliability and translating laboratory results into workable membrane technologies for water purification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":299,"journal":{"name":"Desalination","volume":"625 ","pages":"Article 119935"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2026.119908
C.A. Casares-De la Torre , N. Velázquez-Limón , R. López-Zavala , J. Ríos-Arriola , G.E. Dévora-Isiordia , S. Islas-Pereda , J.A. Aguilar-Jiménez
This paper evaluates the technical feasibility of a desalination system for the simultaneous production of water and cooling, developed from a novel high-vacuum multi-effect distillation (MED-HV) system (28.3–0.8 kPa). The innovation lies in leveraging the operating conditions to use the product water directly as a refrigerant. The system integrates a barometric ejector-condenser and a three-way valve that regulates the product water flow to an evaporator, allowing the cooling capacity to be adjusted according to demand. The study was conducted in Aspen Plus and validated with experimental results reported in the literature. The MED-HV system achieves a water production of 96.03 m3/d and a cooling capacity of 700 TR (2460 kW). The effect of cooling capacity variation on the ejector-condenser performance and the system's global indicators was analyzed. Compared to commercial desalination and cooling technologies operating in a hybrid manner, the proposed system achieves a Global Coefficient of Performance (COPG) of 9.22 —20.73% higher— and accomplishes a 17.15% reduction in global specific energy consumption, for both desalination (SECG_D: 127.15 kWh/m3) and cooling (SECG_C: 0.73 kWh/TR). These results confirm the potential of the proposed system to efficiently and simultaneously meet water and space conditioning needs.
{"title":"High-vacuum multi-effect desalination system with barometric ejector-condensation for simultaneous water and cooling production","authors":"C.A. Casares-De la Torre , N. Velázquez-Limón , R. López-Zavala , J. Ríos-Arriola , G.E. Dévora-Isiordia , S. Islas-Pereda , J.A. Aguilar-Jiménez","doi":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119908","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.desal.2026.119908","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper evaluates the technical feasibility of a desalination system for the simultaneous production of water and cooling, developed from a novel high-vacuum multi-effect distillation (MED-HV) system (28.3–0.8 kPa). The innovation lies in leveraging the operating conditions to use the product water directly as a refrigerant. The system integrates a barometric ejector-condenser and a three-way valve that regulates the product water flow to an evaporator, allowing the cooling capacity to be adjusted according to demand. The study was conducted in Aspen Plus and validated with experimental results reported in the literature. The MED-HV system achieves a water production of 96.03 m<sup>3</sup>/d and a cooling capacity of 700 TR (2460 kW). The effect of cooling capacity variation on the ejector-condenser performance and the system's global indicators was analyzed. Compared to commercial desalination and cooling technologies operating in a hybrid manner, the proposed system achieves a Global Coefficient of Performance (COP<sub>G</sub>) of 9.22 —20.73% higher— and accomplishes a 17.15% reduction in global specific energy consumption, for both desalination (SEC<sub>G_D</sub>: 127.15 kWh/m<sup>3</sup>) and cooling (SEC<sub>G_C</sub>: 0.73 kWh/TR). These results confirm the potential of the proposed system to efficiently and simultaneously meet water and space conditioning needs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":299,"journal":{"name":"Desalination","volume":"625 ","pages":"Article 119908"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146186453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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