TY - JOUR
T1 - Designing energy-efficient separation membranes
T2 - Knowledge from nature for a sustainable future
AU - Chen, Ting
AU - Wei, Xiuming
AU - Chen, Zheng
AU - Morin, Duncan
AU - Alvarez, Sarai Veiga
AU - Yoon, Yeomin
AU - Huang, Yi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Nanjing Tech University.
PY - 2022/1
Y1 - 2022/1
N2 - Membrane separation has provided efficient solutions for addressing energy and environmental challenges over the past few decades due to its low energy consumption, convenient operation, and reduced secondary pollution. An energy-efficient membrane separation process usually requires high-performance membranes with outstanding chemical, mechanical properties, special nanostructures, and superior separation characteristics. Hence, considerable effort has been devoted to finding and designing new membrane materials with optimized membrane structures. In recent years, researchers have gained deep knowledge of learning biomimetic concepts or strategies from nature for designing energy-efficient separation membranes with favorable structures. This is because, after 4.5 billion years of evolution, the world of nature has become a natural school for scientists and engineers, which has offered astonishing solutions/inspirations for designing more sustainable separation materials. In this review, particular attention is paid to knowledge from nature for the design of separation membranes and recent advancements in their design strategies. Additionally, natural functional materials that have been utilized in the replacement of conventional fossil-based materials for membrane production are reviewed. Present challenges and directions for the development of next-generation membranes are also discussed.
AB - Membrane separation has provided efficient solutions for addressing energy and environmental challenges over the past few decades due to its low energy consumption, convenient operation, and reduced secondary pollution. An energy-efficient membrane separation process usually requires high-performance membranes with outstanding chemical, mechanical properties, special nanostructures, and superior separation characteristics. Hence, considerable effort has been devoted to finding and designing new membrane materials with optimized membrane structures. In recent years, researchers have gained deep knowledge of learning biomimetic concepts or strategies from nature for designing energy-efficient separation membranes with favorable structures. This is because, after 4.5 billion years of evolution, the world of nature has become a natural school for scientists and engineers, which has offered astonishing solutions/inspirations for designing more sustainable separation materials. In this review, particular attention is paid to knowledge from nature for the design of separation membranes and recent advancements in their design strategies. Additionally, natural functional materials that have been utilized in the replacement of conventional fossil-based materials for membrane production are reviewed. Present challenges and directions for the development of next-generation membranes are also discussed.
KW - Bioinspiration
KW - Biomimetic
KW - Biopolymer
KW - Membrane separation
KW - Sustainable development
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85141017835&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.advmem.2022.100031
DO - 10.1016/j.advmem.2022.100031
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85141017835
SN - 2772-8234
VL - 2
JO - Advanced Membranes
JF - Advanced Membranes
M1 - 100031
ER -