Designing cost effective multilayered biomimetic water membranes for water purification




The design of water purification membranes has been evolving throughout the years to provide increased water throughput, high filtering efficiency, loading capacity. However, producing such multilayered materials presents a great challenge. One solution is to use novel biomaterials-based nanoporous membranes. The problem lies in producing the multi layered composites which requires weak interactions between the layers of mineral plates and the nanofibrils. Researchers have produced experimentally demonstrated such a membrane by utilizing Silk Nanofibrils and HAP (hydroxyapatite). This composite can be used to fabricate nanoporous multilayered membranes by combining in situ biomineralization and protein self-assembly. This process of production does not require sophisticated equipment and is repeatable making it suitable for upscaled production of water purification membranes. This could mean Biomimetic designs and production method can open up a new possibility to mass produce low cost membranes for water purification for applications in biomedicine, food industry and waste water treatment.

Jessie Marsh | BiopolySci 2018 

biopolymers@memeetings.net




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