High-flux and anti-fouling membrane distillation membrane with VOC capture ability enabled by ZIF-8.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 40877280.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-63267-8 and PMC identifier 12394678.
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Abstract
Seawater desalination and wastewater purification from brackish water, shale gas extraction, and industrial processes remain vital but challenging. Membrane distillation offers a promising solution yet struggles with low flux, membrane fouling, and the permeation of volatile organic compounds alongside water vapor. Here, we introduce an omniphobic ZIF-8 composite membrane that traps volatile organic compounds under vacuum through crystal phase transitions and enhances water evaporation via linkage swing within hydrophobic micropores. This membrane, with a 92% ZIF-8 loading, fabricated through thermally induced phase separation, hot-pressing, and surface coating, can process over 38,000 L of water with 10 ppm contaminants per square meter without needing reactivation. Achieving a normalized flux of 71.8 L m<sup>-2</sup> h<sup>-1</sup> bar<sup>-1</sup>, it outperforms conventional membranes by fivefold in treating 10.5 wt% saline water, while maintaining excellent cyclic stability over 900 h and high anti-fouling properties. This work presents an effective approach for sustainable water purification.