Solar-Intensified Ultrafiltration System Based on Porous Photothermal Membrane for Efficient Water Treatment

Abstract

Membrane separation is widely regarded as a promising technology for water treatment. To run the membrane at the optimal conditions, preheating of feedwater before being sent into the membrane unit is often employed, which results in high energy consumption. Here we report a multifunctional system that combines traditional pressure-driven membrane filtration with solar thermal technology based on a photothermal membrane for high-efficiency water treatment. The multifunctional membrane consists of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and polysulfone (MWCNT-PSf), which not only facilitates the water permeation through the membrane but also effectively heats the feed solution by sustainable solar energy. The composite membrane containing MWCNT demonstrates excellent light absorption of 94% over the full solar spectrum range, which can effectively preheat the feedwater. With the assistance of light irradiation, the MWCNT-PSf photothermal membrane exhibits high water flux over 314 L m–2 h–1 with a rejection above 95% for coomassie brilliant blue at 0.10 MPa, which is 101.3% higher than that without light irradiation. The solar-intensified ultrafiltration system based on a porous photothermal membrane provides a new avenue to treat wastewater or seawater.

Multifunctional Nickel Sulfide Nanosheet Arrays for Solar‐Intensified Oxygen Evolution Reaction

“…The light adsorption property of the Ni 3 S 2 nanosheets and bare FeNi foam was investigated by the UV–vis–NIR absorption spectra in the whole solar spectrum region with the wavelength range from 250 to 2500 nm. [ 34 ] As shown in Figure a, the Ni 3 S 2 nanosheets on FeNi foam exhibit an obvious light absorption at the whole investigated range, which achieves more than ca. 70% of light absorption, implying the excellent solar light‐harvesting capability and potential photothermal conversion property.…”

Review of New Approaches for Fouling Mitigation in Membrane Separation Processes in Water Treatment Applications

“…Traditional water treatment technologies were developed primarily to reduce the risks of waterborne diseases by removing or chemically inactivating viruses, bacteria, and protozoa [2]. Technologies for desalinating seawater and removing contaminants from polluted water bodies are among the advanced water treatment processes [3]. Membrane-based processes, advanced oxidation, and adsorption on activated carbon and other substrates are examples of advanced water treatment processes.…”

Biomimetic 3D Membranes with MXene Heterostructures for Superior Solar Steam Generation, Water Treatment, and Electricity Generation

“…Providing efficient water supply to the localized heating area is critical for high solar vapor generation, and extensive studies have been conducted to improve water transport during solar steam generation process. One of the effective ways was to create water vapor channels, for example, 1D, [ 20 ] 2D, [ 17 ] and 3D [ 21 ] water transport channels were designed to enhance solar steam generation efficiency. Among these methods, electrospinning is an effective technique which has been successfully applied in the construction of multilevel polymer nanofibers and porous 3D membranes, [ 22,23 ] with a hierarchical ultrathin fibrous structure formed with diameters ranging from the micro‐ to nanoscale, which facilitates fast vapor transport.…”

“…water vapor channels, for example, 1D, [20] 2D, [17] and 3D [21] water transport channels were designed to enhance solar steam generation efficiency. Among these methods, electrospinning is an effective technique which has been successfully applied in the construction of multilevel polymer nanofibers and porous 3D membranes, [22,23] with a hierarchical ultrathin fibrous structure formed with diameters ranging from the micro-to nanoscale, which facilitates fast vapor transport.…”