Nature-Inspired Membranes Pave Way for Cleaner Industry

The separation of substances is a crucial process for many manufacturing operations, including drug purification, textile dye treatment and food production, and it accounts for 40 to 50 percent of global industrial energy consumption. A study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society describes a new, nature-inspired technology that could reduce energy use and enhance water reuse. Polymer membranes are recognized as a cleaner alternative to existing separation methods, but they have uneven pore sizes that can change shape during industrial use.

The researchers developed crystalline membranes using polyoxometalate (POM) clusters that have a naturally occurring, exactly one nanometer wide opening that does not change shape. Billions of POM clusters are arranged into a continuous membrane using chemical chains, which functions like a high-tech sieve. According to one of the study’s authors, the new technology demonstrated 10 times better performance compared to current separation technologies, while simultaneously remaining flexible, stable and scalable. If implemented in the textile industry, it would effectively remove dye molecules while allowing the water to be recycled, thereby reducing water demand and chemical waste.