Mussel-inspired membrane adds efficiencies to electrodialysis

With input from researchers at Bath University, the thin-film composite nanoporous membrane is claimed to present a new opportunity for industries to improve sustainability, while extracting valuable by-products from wastewater. The team, including academics from China, South Korea, Singapore, Australia and Belgium, have detailed their work in Nature Water.

They said the membrane could replace current equivalents used in electrodialysis, where existing membranes are expensive and can achieve separation efficiencies of 90-95 per cent. The team said the new TFC NPM takes efficiencies to over 99 per cent while using less energy.

Dr Ming Xie, lecturer in Chemical Engineering at Bath University, said: “Traditionally, many industries have regarded the wastewater they create as a trade waste that is a necessary cost of business. Technologies such as the membrane we have created can help us take steps toward lowering carbon emissions by reducing the energy requirement of wastewater treatment, while finding ways to efficiently separate the components in it such as chemicals, salts, energy, biomass and nutrients, before reusing them as high-value by-products.”