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
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