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Development of Thermo-Responsive and Salt-Adaptive Ultrafiltration Membranes Functionalized with PNIPAM-co-PDMAC Copolymer
Energy Efficient Forward Osmosis to Maximize Dewatering Rates
Inhibition of ISAV Membrane Fusion by a Peptide Derived from Its Fusion Protein
Applications of Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membrane Process in Wine and Beer Industry
Toluidine Blue for the Determination of Binding of Anionic Polysaccharides to Lipid Raft Domains by Absorption Spectroscopy

Journal Description

Membranes

Membranes is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal, published monthly online by MDPI, covers the broad aspects of the science and technology of both biological and non-biological membranes. European Membrane Society (EMS), Membrane Society of Australasia (MSA) and Polish Membrane Society (PTMem) are affiliated with Membranes and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.

Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Ei Compendex, PubMed, PMC, CAPlus / SciFinder, Inspec, and other databases.
Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Polymer Science) / CiteScore - Q1 (Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous))
Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 17 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.5 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2025).
Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.

Impact Factor: 3.6 (2024); 5-Year Impact Factor: 3.9 (2024)

Imprint Information Journal Flyer Open Access ISSN: 2077-0375

Latest Articles

18 pages, 3240 KB

Open AccessArticle

Zn²⁺-Mediated Co-Deposition of Dopamine/Tannic Acid/ZIF-8 on PVDF Hollow Fiber Membranes for Enhanced Antifouling Performance and Protein Separation

by Lei Ni, Qiancheng Cui, Zhe Wang, Xueting Zhang, Jun Ma, Wenjuan Zhang and Caihong Liu

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090277 - 15 Sep 2025

The inherent hydrophobicity of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) ultrafiltration membranes leads to severe membrane fouling when processing proteinaceous solutions and organic contaminants, significantly limiting their practical applications. This study presents a novel metal-ion mediated co-deposition strategy for fabricating high-performance antifouling poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) hollow [...] Read more.

The inherent hydrophobicity of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) ultrafiltration membranes leads to severe membrane fouling when processing proteinaceous solutions and organic contaminants, significantly limiting their practical applications. This study presents a novel metal-ion mediated co-deposition strategy for fabricating high-performance antifouling poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) hollow fiber ultrafiltration membranes. Through Zn²⁺ coordination-driven self-assembly, a uniform and stable composite coating of dopamine (DA), tannic acid (TA), and ZIF-8 nanoparticles was successfully constructed on the membrane surface under mild conditions. The modified membrane exhibited significantly enhanced hydrophilicity, with a water contact angle of 21° and zeta potential of −29.68 mV, facilitating the formation of a dense hydration layer that effectively prevented protein adhesion. The membrane demonstrated exceptional separation performance, achieving a pure water permeability of 771 L/(m²∙h∙bar) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection of 97.7%. Furthermore, it showed outstanding antifouling capability with flux recovery rates exceeding 83.6%, 74.7%, and 71.5% after fouling by BSA, lysozyme, and ovalbumin, respectively. xDLVO analysis revealed substantially increased interfacial free energy and stronger repulsive interactions between the modified surface and protein foulants. The antifouling mechanism was attributed to the synergistic effects of hydration layer formation, optimized pore structure, additional water transport pathways from ZIF-8 incorporation, and electrostatic repulsion from negatively charged surface groups. This work provides valuable insights into the rational design of high-performance antifouling membranes for sustainable water treatment and protein separation applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Distillation and Other Membrane-Related Applications for Water Cleaning and Desalination)

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23 pages, 5101 KB

Open AccessArticle

Fouling Mechanisms in the Clarification of 1,3-Propanediol Fermentation Broths by Membrane Processes

by Hong Chen, Fu Yang, Qianyu Wang, Tianyu Zheng, Rongqing Zhou, Chongde Wu and Yao Jin

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090276 - 12 Sep 2025

Membrane separation is an effective means of separating 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) from fermentation broth. However, systematic studies on membrane fouling behavior during this process are still limited. Therefore, this study systematically analyzed the membrane fouling behavior during the clarification of 1,3-PD fermentation broth using [...] Read more.

Membrane separation is an effective means of separating 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) from fermentation broth. However, systematic studies on membrane fouling behavior during this process are still limited. Therefore, this study systematically analyzed the membrane fouling behavior during the clarification of 1,3-PD fermentation broth using ultrafiltration/microfiltration and explored the effects of different membrane materials, pore sizes, and shear rates on permeation efficiency, target product recovery rate, and impurity removal rate. The results showed that the filtration of 1,3-PD fermentation broth was mainly dominated by cake formation, and the main foulant was identified as proteinaceous substances. Otherwise, increasing the shear rate adjacent to the membrane did not alter the membrane pore fouling mechanism, but it can disrupt the reversible fouling layer and reduce the growth rate of the fouling layer. Meanwhile, the results also indicated that the PES 100 kDa membrane exhibited the best overall performance with high recovery rate of 1,3-PD and excellent removal effects on impurities, significantly reducing the subsequent purification burden. This study provides more theoretical basis and data support for the optimization of membrane separation processes in 1,3-PD fermentation broth clarification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Membrane Separation Technology for Water Pollution Control and Membrane Fouling Mitigation)

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22 pages, 4596 KB

Open AccessReview

Microwave Synthesis in Zeolite and MOF Membranes

by Liangqing Li

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090275 - 12 Sep 2025

Zeolites and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline porous materials characterized by highly ordered pore structures. Their fabrication into membranes has demonstrated significant potential for use in separation processes involving liquids or gases. Traditional methods for synthesizing these membranes often require prolonged reaction times [...] Read more.

Zeolites and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline porous materials characterized by highly ordered pore structures. Their fabrication into membranes has demonstrated significant potential for use in separation processes involving liquids or gases. Traditional methods for synthesizing these membranes often require prolonged reaction times and high energy input. In contrast, microwave heating technology has gained increasing attention as a more efficient approach for the synthesis of zeolite and MOF membranes, offering advantages such as rapid and uniform heating, enhanced energy efficiency, and greater environmental sustainability. This review focuses on fundamental research and laboratory-scale studies on the microwave-assisted synthesis of zeolite and MOF membranes. It begins by outlining the principles of microwave heating, emphasizing the mechanisms that enable accelerated heating. The discussion then highlights the key features and advantages of microwave synthesis in membrane fabrication, including reduced synthesis times, thinner membrane layers, suppression of impurities and undesired phases, and enhanced membrane density. Recent advancements in this area are also presented, particularly strategies for optimizing microwave heating processes, such as the use of single-mode microwave systems and precise control of heating rates. Notably, optimized microwave synthesis with controlled heating rates has been shown to reduce crystallization time by approximately 69%, decrease membrane thickness by nearly 70%, and improve pervaporation flux for acetic acid dehydration by more than 70%, compared with conventional microwave synthesis of mordenite membranes. Finally, the review summarizes and presents future perspectives aimed at promoting continued research and refinement of synthesis strategies in this promising area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis, and Application of Inorganic Membranes)

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14 pages, 3149 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Surface Morphology on Mesoporous Silicon-Modified Nanofiltration Membranes for High Rejection Performances

by Ying Ding, Aifang Ding, Yuqing Liu and Dong Liu

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090274 - 10 Sep 2025

A novel approach was developed in this work in which composite nanofiltration (NF) membranes were directly and efficiently fabricated with control of the membrane pore structure and surface morphology. The fabrication of mesoporous silicon-modified polysulfone blend membranes is achieved via a phase inversion [...] Read more.

A novel approach was developed in this work in which composite nanofiltration (NF) membranes were directly and efficiently fabricated with control of the membrane pore structure and surface morphology. The fabrication of mesoporous silicon-modified polysulfone blend membranes is achieved via a phase inversion method. The structural morphology, surface functional group analysis, elemental analysis, hydrophilicity, chargeability, and nitrogen pollutant (ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen) rejection properties of the modified membranes were found to be dependent on the amount of mesoporous silicon incorporated. The combination of the mesoporous silicon framework layer can not only effectively improve the surface structure of the modified membrane with a narrow pore size distribution but also increase the rejection of nitrogen pollutants compared with pure NF membranes. The mesoporous material interlayer can absorb and store the aqueous amino solution to facilitate the subsequent interfacial polymerization as well as induce changes in the pore radius and surface structure. Compared with pure NF composite membranes, the modified blend membranes exhibit increased water permeation flux as high as 29.09 L m⁻² h⁻¹ at 0.2 MPa. The results show that the optimum doping amount of mesoporous silicon is in the range of 0.5–1.0%. Characterization studies demonstrated that the addition of mesoporous silicon leads to a decreased membrane pore size. Then the retention of nitrogen pollutants was enhanced because of a combination of hydrophilicity enhancement from the carboxylic and hydroxyl functional groups present in their surfaces leading to electrostatic repulsion between functional groups present in the membranes and the nitrogen pollutant molecules. Full article

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27 pages, 4692 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrogen Solubility in Metal Membranes: Critical Review and Re-Elaboration of Literature Data

by Giuseppe Prenesti, Alessia Anoja, Pierfrancesco Perri, Abdulrahman Yaqoub Alraeesi, Shigeki Hara and Alessio Caravella

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090273 - 9 Sep 2025

This study undertakes a thorough examination of hydrogen solubility within various metal-alloy membranes, including those based on palladium (Pd), vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), amorphous alloys and liquid gallium (Ga). The analysis aims to outline the strengths and weaknesses of each material [...] Read more.

This study undertakes a thorough examination of hydrogen solubility within various metal-alloy membranes, including those based on palladium (Pd), vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), amorphous alloys and liquid gallium (Ga). The analysis aims to outline the strengths and weaknesses of each material in terms of solubility and permeability performance. The investigation began by acknowledging the dual definitions of solubility found in literature: the “secant method”, which calculates solubility based on the hydrogen pressure corresponding to a specific sorbed hydrogen loading, and the “tangent method”, which evaluates solubility as the derivative (differential solubility) of the sorption isotherm at various square root values of hydrogen partial pressure. These distinct methodologies yield notably different outcomes. Subsequently, a compilation of experimental data for each membrane type is gathered, and these data are re-analysed to assess both solubility definitions. This enabled a clearer comparison and a deeper analysis of membrane behaviour across different conditions of temperature, pressure, and composition in terms of hydrogen solubility in the metal matrix. The re-evaluation presented in this study serves to identify the most suitable membranes for hydrogen separation or storage, as well as to pinpoint the threshold of embrittlement resulting from hydrogen accumulation within the metal lattice. Lastly, recent research has indicated that particularly promising membranes are those fashioned as “sandwich” structures using liquid gallium. These membranes demonstrate resistance to embrittlement while exhibiting superior performance characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes and Membrane Reactors for Gas Purification and Production: Towards More Sustainable Processes)

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21 pages, 7619 KB

Open AccessArticle

Investigations on the Particle Fouling and Backwash Efficiency During Microplastic Microfiltration–Particle Size Aspects

by Saeedeh Saremi, Leonie Marie Scheer, Gerhard Braun, Marcus Koch, Markus Gallei and Matthias Faust

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090272 - 9 Sep 2025

The characteristics of polystyrene (PS) microplastic (MP) microfiltration by a cellulose acetate (CA) membrane were investigated within this study. Particle sizes and pore sizes were selected in a comparable range in order to challenge the dead-end microfiltration. Backwashing experiments round up the investigations. [...] Read more.

The characteristics of polystyrene (PS) microplastic (MP) microfiltration by a cellulose acetate (CA) membrane were investigated within this study. Particle sizes and pore sizes were selected in a comparable range in order to challenge the dead-end microfiltration. Backwashing experiments round up the investigations. Microfiltration characteristics and particle size measurements, as well as a particle fouling analysis by different methods, were applied in the study in order to provide a comprehensive picture of particle deposition and particle fouling structuring. The particle removal efficiency was particle-size-dependent, and especially small particles were further reduced during the proceeding filtration, while the larger particles were already removed within the first minutes of filtration. This observation was attributed to the pore blocking (internal and/or complete) and build-up of the filter cake. The difference in the particle-fouling structure at low and elevated filtration pressure significantly influences the backwashing efficiency. The particle fouling resulting from low-pressure filtration was completely removed due to the backwashing procedure applied, while an increased filtration pressure resulted in a different particle-fouling structure, which negatively influenced the backwashing efficiency. This knowledge of the formation and structure of the MP particle fouling and its removal by backwashing is a prerequisite for further process development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Distillation and Other Membrane-Related Applications for Water Cleaning and Desalination)

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14 pages, 3431 KB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Adsorption–Membrane Distillation for Heavy Metal Extraction and Water Reclamation from Saline Waste Streams

by Jie Xu, Jinxin Liu, Mei-Ling Liu, Guangze Nie and Dong Zou

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090271 - 8 Sep 2025

Membrane distillation demonstrates ideal separation performance towards saline water; however, it fails to accomplish the classification and recovery of multiple components from complex saline solutions (i.e., heavy metal ion-laden saline water in process industries). Herein, an adsorption–membrane distillation (MD) coupling process was proposed, [...] Read more.

Membrane distillation demonstrates ideal separation performance towards saline water; however, it fails to accomplish the classification and recovery of multiple components from complex saline solutions (i.e., heavy metal ion-laden saline water in process industries). Herein, an adsorption–membrane distillation (MD) coupling process was proposed, as an example of a Pb(II)/NaCl mixed solution, in which the prepared adsorption membrane was firstly employed to adsorb heavy metal ions in the mixed solution and then the brine was concentrated by the MD process to realize water source recovery and utilization. Firstly, an FeOOH@PVDF adsorptive membrane was fabricated to adsorb Pb(II) ions. It was demonstrated that chemical adsorption was identified as the dominant mechanism, and the composite membrane showed excellent selective adsorption for Pb(II). Following this, the omniphobic membrane was then employed to concentrate the Pb(II)-removed saline solution, maintaining a water flux of 16.12 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ at a concentration factor of 7.7, demonstrating excellent MD concentration performance. Through this coupled process, the saline wastewater containing heavy metal ions was successfully separated into purified water and concentrated brine without heavy metal ions, providing a novel approach for the treatment and recycling of complex saline wastewater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Processes for Water Recovery in Food Processing Industries)

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22 pages, 661 KB

Open AccessReview

Current Trends and Biotechnological Innovations in Biofouling Control of RO Membranes in Desalination Systems

by Victoria Cruz-Balladares, Hernán Vera-Villalobos, Carlos Riquelme and Fernando Silva Aciares

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090270 - 5 Sep 2025

Background: Water scarcity is a pressing global challenge increasingly addressed by advanced desalination that converts seawater into potable water. Reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration dominate because they deliver permeate with very low impurities. Their principal limitation is membrane biofouling, which causes clogging, raises energy, [...] Read more.

Background: Water scarcity is a pressing global challenge increasingly addressed by advanced desalination that converts seawater into potable water. Reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration dominate because they deliver permeate with very low impurities. Their principal limitation is membrane biofouling, which causes clogging, raises energy, operation, and maintenance costs, and shortens membrane life. Multiple approaches mitigate biofouling—most notably pretreatment trains and engineered surface coatings—but cleaning remains the most decisive remediation pathway. Current practice distinguishes physical, chemical, and biological cleaning. Biological cleaning has gained momentum by exploiting microorganisms that inherently counter biofilms. These strategies include targeted secretion of enzymes and antifouling metabolites, and the application of whole-cell culture supernatants containing the full suite of secreted components. In addition, predatory bacteria can infiltrate established biofilms and eradicate them by lysing prey, thereby accelerating the removal of adherent biomass. Progress across these bio-based approaches signals meaningful advances in fouling control and could substantially improve the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of desalination facilities. Collectively, they underscore the transformative potential of biological antifouling agents in operational systems. Realizing that potential will require rigorous evaluation of technical performance, long-term stability, compatibility with polyamide membranes, regulatory acceptance, and environmental safety, ultimately alongside scalable production and cost-effective deployment in full-scale plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Membrane Filtration and Separation)

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23 pages, 3511 KB

Open AccessArticle

Modelling of Diffusion and Reaction of Carbon Dioxide and Nutrients in Biofilm for Optimal Design and Operation of Emerging Membrane Carbonated Microalgal Biofilm Photobioreactors

by Meilan Liu and Baoqiang Liao

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090269 - 4 Sep 2025

The biological performance and carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux of the novel and emerging concept of a membrane carbonated microalgal biofilm photobioreactor (MC-MBPBR) for wastewater treatment were investigated using mathematical modelling in conjunction with the finite-difference method. A set of differential equations [...] Read more.

The biological performance and carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux of the novel and emerging concept of a membrane carbonated microalgal biofilm photobioreactor (MC-MBPBR) for wastewater treatment were investigated using mathematical modelling in conjunction with the finite-difference method. A set of differential equations was established to model the performance of an MC-MBPBR. The impacts of CO₂ partial pressure, wastewater characteristics, and biofilm thickness on the concentration profiles and fluxes of CO₂ and nutrients (N and P) to the biofilm of the MC-MBPBR were systematically studied. The modelling results showed profound impacts of these parameters on process efficiency (CO₂ transfer and N and P removals) and the existence of an optimal biofilm thickness for maximum CO₂, N, and P fluxes into the biofilm. Penetration of CO₂ through the biofilm into the bulk water phase might occur under certain conditions. An increase in gaseous CO₂ and increased influent N and P concentrations led to higher CO₂, N, and P fluxes. The optimal biofilm thickness varied with the change in wastewater characteristics and gaseous CO₂ concentration. The modelling results were in relatively good agreement with experimental results from the literature. The proposed mathematical models can be used as a powerful tool to optimize the design and operation of the novel MC-MBPBR for wastewater treatment and microalgae cultivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in 'Membrane Physics and Theory')

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21 pages, 4474 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Validated CFD Model for Gas Exchange in Hollow Fiber Membrane Oxygenators: Incorporating the Bohr and Haldane Effects

by Seyyed Hossein Monsefi Estakhrposhti, Jingjing Xu, Margit Gföhler and Michael Harasek

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090268 - 4 Sep 2025

Chronic respiratory diseases claim nearly four million lives annually, making them the third leading cause of death worldwide. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is often the last line of support for patients with severe lung failure. Still, its performance is limited by an incomplete [...] Read more.

Chronic respiratory diseases claim nearly four million lives annually, making them the third leading cause of death worldwide. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is often the last line of support for patients with severe lung failure. Still, its performance is limited by an incomplete understanding of gas exchange in hollow fiber membrane (HFM) oxygenators. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become a robust oxygenator design and optimization tool. However, most models oversimplify O₂ and CO₂ transport by ignoring their physiological coupling, instead relying on fixed saturation curves or constant-content assumptions. For the first time, this study introduces a novel physiologically informed CFD model that integrates the Bohr and Haldane effects to capture the coupled transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide as functions of local pH, temperature, and gas partial pressures. The model is validated against in vitro experimental data from the literature and assessed against established CFD models. The proposed CFD model achieved excellent agreement with experiments across blood flow rates (100–500

mL / \min

), with relative errors below 5% for oxygen and 10–15% for carbon dioxide transfer. These results surpassed the accuracy of all existing CFD approaches, demonstrating that a carefully formulated single-phase model combined with physiologically informed diffusivities can outperform more complex multiphase simulations. This work provides a computationally efficient and physiologically realistic framework for oxygenator optimization, potentially accelerating device development, reducing reliance on costly in vitro testing, and enabling patient-specific simulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Membrane Applications for Gas Separation)

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19 pages, 2878 KB

Open AccessArticle

Exploration of Methods for In Situ Scale Removal During Magnesium Hydroxide Membrane Crystallization

by Ester Komačková, Lukáš Sedlák, Ivan Červeňanský and Jozef Markoš

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090267 - 3 Sep 2025

In coastal countries facing a shortage of drinking water, seawater desalination is essential for the production of potable water. During desalination, a large volume of waste stream, known as brine, is generated. This stream contains high concentrations of salts, particularly those of economic [...] Read more.

In coastal countries facing a shortage of drinking water, seawater desalination is essential for the production of potable water. During desalination, a large volume of waste stream, known as brine, is generated. This stream contains high concentrations of salts, particularly those of economic importance to the European Union, such as magnesium and calcium. By further processing this stream, these materials can be recovered. One method studied for separating magnesium from wastewater is membrane crystallization (MCr). The MCr process developed in this work utilizes ion-exchange membranes that separate the model brine solution from a precipitating agent, which is a solution of sodium hydroxide. During the process, the membrane allows the transport of anions between the two solutions, enabling the reaction between OH⁻ anions and Mg²⁺ cations, which leads to the formation of a magnesium hydroxide precipitate. The formed precipitate can then be filtered out of the brine solution, which now has decreased salinity due to crystallization facilitated by the ion-exchange membrane. However, precipitation occurs near the membrane surface, resulting in the deposition of magnesium hydroxide onto the outer surface of the membrane. The aim of this study is to investigate methods for effectively removing magnesium hydroxide from the membrane surface, with a primary focus on maximizing the yield of magnesium hydroxide crystals in suspension. Crystal removal was induced by circulation of hydrochloric acid, followed by circulation of demineralized water through the membrane module after crystallization. In this study, a membrane module made of hollow-fiber anion-exchange membranes was employed. The production cost of these membranes is approximately 50% lower per square meter compared to flat-sheet membranes commonly used in electrodialysis, demonstrating strong potential for commercial application. More than 85% magnesium conversion was achieved during the process, yet the majority of the crystals remained attached to the membrane. Circulation of hydrochloric acid and demineralized water after the crystallization process caused detachment of the crystals into suspension, nearly doubling their yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Distillation and Other Membrane-Related Applications for Water Cleaning and Desalination)

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18 pages, 5631 KB

Open AccessArticle

Large-Scale Molecular Dynamics of Anion-Exchange Membranes: Molecular Structure of QPAF-4 and Water Transport

by Tetsuro Nagai, Takumi Kawaida and Koji Yoshida

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090266 - 2 Sep 2025

Understanding the molecular structure and water transport behavior in anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) is essential for advancing efficient and cost-effective alkaline fuel cells. In this study, large-scale all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of QPAF-4, a promising AEM material, were performed at multiple water uptakes ( [...] Read more.

Understanding the molecular structure and water transport behavior in anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) is essential for advancing efficient and cost-effective alkaline fuel cells. In this study, large-scale all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of QPAF-4, a promising AEM material, were performed at multiple water uptakes (λ = 2, 3, 6, and 13). The simulated systems comprised approximately 1.4 to 2.1 million atoms and spanned approximately 26 nm, thus enabling direct comparison with both wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments. The simulations successfully reproduced experimentally observed structure factors, accurately capturing microphase-separated morphologies at the mesoscale (

~

8 nm). Decomposition of the SAXS profile into atom pairs suggests that increasing water uptake may facilitate the aggregation of fluorinated alkyl chains. Furthermore, the calculated pair distribution functions showed excellent agreement with WAXS data, suggesting that the atomistic details were accurately reproduced. The water dynamics exhibited strong dependence on hydration level: At low water uptake, mean squared displacement showed persistent subdiffusive behavior even at long timescales (

~

200 ns), whereas almost normal diffusion was observed when water uptake was high. These results suggest that water mobility may be significantly influenced by nanoconfinement and strong interactions exerted by polymer chains and counterions under dry conditions. These findings provide a basis for the rational design and optimization of high-performance membrane materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis and Applications of Ion Exchange Membranes)

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15 pages, 5277 KB

Open AccessArticle

Application of the Transition State Theory in the Study of the Osmotic Permeabilities of AQP7, AQP10 and GlpF

by Ruth Chan and Liao Y. Chen

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090265 - 2 Sep 2025

Aquaglyceroporins, including human AQP7, AQP10, and E. coli GlpF, are known to facilitate movements of glycerol, water, and some other uncharged molecules across the cell membrane. In this study we focused on the transport of water molecules in the absence of glycerol for [...] Read more.

Aquaglyceroporins, including human AQP7, AQP10, and E. coli GlpF, are known to facilitate movements of glycerol, water, and some other uncharged molecules across the cell membrane. In this study we focused on the transport of water molecules in the absence of glycerol for AQP7, AQP10 and GlpF using the Transition State Theory for the novel application of permeability and kinetics studies. We conducted around 500 ns of in silico simulations of the aquaglyceroporins embedded in lipid bilayer membranes with intracellular-extracellular asymmetries in leaflet lipid compositions. For the water permeability analysis, we computed the transition rate constant with correction for recrossing events where the water molecules do not completely traverse the protein channel from one side of the membrane to the other side. We also studied the hydrogen bond distributions of the single-file waters and channel residues and linear water densities along the pores of the aquaglyceroporins. Interestingly, we found that there was an inverse correlation between the number of single-file water molecules in the channel and osmotic permeability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Composition and Biophysical Properties of Lipid Membranes)

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17 pages, 13988 KB

Open AccessArticle

Efficient Removal of Pb(II) Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using an HFO-PVDF Composite Adsorption Membrane

by Shuhang Lu, Qianhui Xu, Mei-Ling Liu, Dong Zou and Guangze Nie

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090264 - 1 Sep 2025

The efficient purification of Pb(II)-containing wastewater is essential for safeguarding public health and maintaining the aquatic environment. In this study, novel hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) nanoparticle-embedded poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite adsorption membranes were developed through a simple blending method for efficient Pb(II) removal. [...] Read more.

The efficient purification of Pb(II)-containing wastewater is essential for safeguarding public health and maintaining the aquatic environment. In this study, novel hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) nanoparticle-embedded poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite adsorption membranes were developed through a simple blending method for efficient Pb(II) removal. This composite membrane (denoted as HFO-PVDF) combines the excellent selectivity of HFO nanoparticles for Pb(II) with the membrane’s advantage of easy scalability. The optimized HFO-PVDF_(1.5) membrane achieved adsorption equilibrium within 20 h and exhibited excellent adsorption capacity. Moreover, adsorption capacity markedly enhanced with increasing temperature, confirming the endothermic nature of the process. The developed HFO-PVDF membranes demonstrate significant potential for real-world wastewater treatment applications, exhibiting exceptional selectivity for Pb(II) in complex ionic matrices and could be effectively regenerated via a relatively straightforward process. Furthermore, filtration and dynamic regeneration tests demonstrated that at an initial Pb(II) concentration of 5 mg/L, the membrane operated continuously for 10–13 h before regeneration, treating up to 200 L/m² of wastewater before breakthrough, highlighting potential for cost-effective industrial wastewater treatment. This study not only demonstrates the high efficiency of the HFO-PVDF membrane for heavy metal ion removal but also provides a theoretical foundation and technical support for its practical application in water treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Membrane Technologies for Removal of Hazardous Pollutants)

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27 pages, 12231 KB

Open AccessReview

Mitochondria-Associated Membrane Dysfunction in Neurodegeneration and Its Effects on Lipid Metabolism, Calcium Signaling, and Cell Fate

by Thi Thuy Truong, Alka Ashok Singh, Nguyen Van Bang, Nguyen Minh Hung Vu, Sungsoo Na, Jaeyeop Choi, Junghwan Oh and Sudip Mondal

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090263 - 31 Aug 2025

Mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) are essential for cellular homeostasis. MAMs are specialized contact sites located between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria and control apoptotic pathways, lipid metabolism, autophagy initiation, and calcium signaling, processes critical to the survival and function of neurons. Although this [...] Read more.

Mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) are essential for cellular homeostasis. MAMs are specialized contact sites located between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria and control apoptotic pathways, lipid metabolism, autophagy initiation, and calcium signaling, processes critical to the survival and function of neurons. Although this area of membrane biology remains understudied, increasing evidence links MAM dysfunction to the etiology of major neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MAMs consist of a network of protein complexes that mediate molecular exchange and ER–mitochondria tethering. MAMs regulate lipid flow in the brain, including phosphatidylserine and cholesterol; disruption of this process causes membrane instability and impaired synaptic function. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor—voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (IP3R-VDAC1) interactions at MAMs maintain calcium homeostasis, which is required for mitochondria to produce ATP; dysregulation promotes oxidative stress and neuronal death. An effective therapeutic approach for altering neurodegenerative processes is to restore the functional integrity of MAMs. Improving cell-to-cell interactions and modulating MAM-associated proteins may contribute to the restoration of calcium homeostasis and lipid metabolism, both of which are key for neuronal protection. MAMs significantly contribute to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, making them promising targets for future therapeutic research. This review emphasizes the increasing importance of MAMs in the study of neurodegeneration and their potential as novel targets for membrane-based therapeutic interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biological Membranes)

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22 pages, 3342 KB

Open AccessArticle

Interpenetrating Nanofibrous Composite Membranes for Removal and Reutilization of P (V) Ions from Wastewater

by Guibin You, Hongyang Ma and Benjamin S. Hsiao

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090262 - 31 Aug 2025

Elevated phosphorus levels in wastewater created significant environmental concerns, including the degradation of surrounding soil structure, inhibition of plant growth, and potential threats to human health. To address this issue, a self-standing nanofibrous composite membrane based on PA-66/PVA-15%La(OH)₃ was fabricated via electrospinning, [...] Read more.

Elevated phosphorus levels in wastewater created significant environmental concerns, including the degradation of surrounding soil structure, inhibition of plant growth, and potential threats to human health. To address this issue, a self-standing nanofibrous composite membrane based on PA-66/PVA-15%La(OH)₃ was fabricated via electrospinning, followed by glutaraldehyde (GA) crosslinking and alkali hydrolysis to create an interpenetrating structure, where PA-66 provided the overall mechanical strength of the membrane, while La served as a functional component for the adsorption of phosphate. The chemical composition, surface morphology, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the resulting membranes were characterized using ATR-FTIR, SEM, TGA, and tensile testing, respectively. Furthermore, the adsorption performance of the membranes was evaluated systematically through static and dynamic adsorption. The Langmuir isotherm model yielded a theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of 21.39 mg/g for phosphate ions. Notably, over 96% of this capacity was retained even in the presence of interfering ions. Moreover, dynamic adsorption experiments demonstrated that the membrane can deal with 1.74 L of phosphate-containing wastewater at a low flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and 1.46 L at a high flow rate of 2.0 mL/min, respectively, while consistently maintaining a phosphate removal efficiency exceeding 90%. A controlled release of phosphate ions from a phosphate-adsorbed membrane was successfully demonstrated using Mougeotia cultivation, implying the potential for phosphorus resource recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Separation and Water Treatment: Modeling and Application)

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18 pages, 4814 KB

Open AccessArticle

Pore-Discriminative Pervaporation of Xylene Isomers Through In Situ Synthesized MIL-100(In) Membranes

by Jinsuo Yu, Chenyang Jiang, Yanjun Wang, Zemin Li, Yawei Gu, Rujing Hou and Yichang Pan

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090261 - 29 Aug 2025

Efficient xylene isomers’ separation remains a challenge due to their similar kinetic diameter and boiling points, particularly for the separation of the immediate size of meta-xylene (MX). A metal–organic framework (MOF) membrane offers the opportunity to realize the isomers’ separation due to the [...] Read more.

Efficient xylene isomers’ separation remains a challenge due to their similar kinetic diameter and boiling points, particularly for the separation of the immediate size of meta-xylene (MX). A metal–organic framework (MOF) membrane offers the opportunity to realize the isomers’ separation due to the highly tunable pore size and pore environment. Herein, an In-based hierarchic MOF (MIL-100) with a size of 0.77 nm was screened, aiming at the realization for isomer separation through pore size matching. Meanwhile, the polar microenvironment in the MOF channel built through trimesic acid ligands contributes to the higher affinity to the MX relative to the PX. With the equimolar feed mixture of MX/PX, the optimal membrane demonstrated a total flux of 7.6 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ and an MX/PX separation factor of 2.54 at room temperature through pervaporation. Such performance highly indicates the possibility for efficient liquid xylene separation in future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research in Pervaporation Membranes)

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14 pages, 2445 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Operational Parameters on Mg²⁺/Li⁺ Separation Performance in Electrodialysis System

by Zhijuan Zhao, Jianhua Yang, Dexin Kong, Yunyan Peng and Dong Jin

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090260 - 29 Aug 2025

Brine with a high magnesium-to-lithium ratio was separated by electrodialysis equipped with a monovalent cation exchange membrane under differing operational parameters. The ionic concentration variations, separation coefficients, lithium recovery ratio, permselectivity coefficient, and Li⁺ flux were analyzed to evaluate the effect of [...] Read more.

Brine with a high magnesium-to-lithium ratio was separated by electrodialysis equipped with a monovalent cation exchange membrane under differing operational parameters. The ionic concentration variations, separation coefficients, lithium recovery ratio, permselectivity coefficient, and Li⁺ flux were analyzed to evaluate the effect of the initial Li⁺/Mg²⁺ mass concentration ratio, applied voltage, and initial volume ratio between the dilute and concentrated compartments on the separation performance of magnesium and lithium. The results showed that the increase in initial Li⁺/Mg²⁺ concentration ratio significantly increased the separation coefficient, lithium recovery ratio, and Li⁺ flux, demonstrating an improvement in the separation performance since the Li⁺ migration was accelerated when less Mg²⁺ competed with Li⁺. As the applied voltage increased from 10 V to 15 V, the separation coefficient increased, and the lithium recovery ratio and Li⁺ flux increased within 60 min; however, as the applied voltage increased to 20 V, the separation coefficient, the lithium recovery ratio, and the Li⁺ flux did not increase, which indicated that an increase in the applied voltage within the limits would contribute to the separation performance. The increase in the initial volume ratio between the dilute and concentrated compartments decreased the separation coefficient and lithium recovery ratio, indicating that the separation performance had declined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Membrane Applications for Water Treatment)

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37 pages, 24408 KB

Open AccessReview

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Liposomes: Structure, Dynamics, and Applications

by Ehsan Khodadadi, Ehsaneh Khodadadi, Parth Chaturvedi and Mahmoud Moradi

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090259 - 29 Aug 2025

Liposomes are nanoscale, spherical vesicles composed of phospholipid bilayers, typically ranging from 50 to 200 nm in diameter. Their unique ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules makes them powerful nanocarriers for drug delivery, diagnostics, and vaccine formulations. Several FDA-approved formulations such [...] Read more.

Liposomes are nanoscale, spherical vesicles composed of phospholipid bilayers, typically ranging from 50 to 200 nm in diameter. Their unique ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules makes them powerful nanocarriers for drug delivery, diagnostics, and vaccine formulations. Several FDA-approved formulations such as Doxil^® (Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL, USA), AmBisome^® (Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, CA, USA), and Onivyde^® (Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Basking Ridge, NJ, USA) highlight their clinical significance. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of how molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, particularly coarse-grained (CG) and atomistic approaches, advance our understanding of liposomal membranes. We explore key membrane biophysical properties, including area per lipid (APL), bilayer thickness, segmental order parameter (

S_{C D}

), radial distribution functions (RDFs), bending modulus, and flip-flop dynamics, and examine how these are modulated by cholesterol concentration, PEGylation, and curvature. Special attention is given to curvature-induced effects in spherical vesicles, such as lipid asymmetry, interleaflet coupling, and stress gradients across the leaflets. We discuss recent developments in vesicle modeling using tools such as TS2CG, CHARMM-GUI Martini Maker, and Packmol, which have enabled the simulation of large-scale, compositionally heterogeneous systems. The review also highlights simulation-guided strategies for designing stealth liposomes, tuning membrane permeability, and enhancing structural stability under physiological conditions. A range of CG force fields, MARTINI, SPICA, SIRAH, ELBA, SDK, as well as emerging machine learning (ML)-based models, are critically assessed for their strengths and limitations. Despite the efficiency of CG models, challenges remain in capturing long-timescale events and atomistic-level interactions, driving the development of hybrid multiscale frameworks and AI-integrated techniques. By bridging experimental findings with in silico insights, MD simulations continue to play a pivotal role in the rational design of next-generation liposomal therapeutics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in 'Membrane Physics and Theory')

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14 pages, 2868 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Ca Substitution in Single-Phase Sr_1-xCa_xTi_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-ẟ Oxygen Transport Membranes and in Dual-Phase Sr_1-xCa_xTi_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-ẟ-Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O₂ Membranes

by Veronica Nigroni, Yuning Tang, Stefan Baumann, Doris Sebold, Enrico Malgrati and Paolo Fedeli

Membranes 2025, 15(9), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15090258 - 29 Aug 2025

Oxygen transport membranes (OTMs) have gained a lot of attention for their application in different innovative fields, but the development of new materials able to combine high oxygen permeability and good chemical stability is crucial to boost the exploitation of such membrane-based technologies. [...] Read more.

Oxygen transport membranes (OTMs) have gained a lot of attention for their application in different innovative fields, but the development of new materials able to combine high oxygen permeability and good chemical stability is crucial to boost the exploitation of such membrane-based technologies. Perovskite oxides are widely studied as mixed ionic-electronic conductors for the realization of OTMs. In this article, we focus on _Sr1-xCa_xTi_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-ẟ (SCTF) perovskites and investigate the effect of Ca content on the A-site of the permeation properties, both in single-phase SCTF membranes and in dual-phase membranes obtained by combining SCTF and the ionic conductor Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O₂ (CGO). In single-phase samples, we observed that the substitution of 40% Ca preserves the permeation performances of the non-substituted SrTi_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−ẟ membrane while allowing for a substantial decrease in the sintering temperature, thus facilitating membrane manufacturing. In dual-phase membranes, the increase in the Ca content in the perovskite causes an increase in grain size. The permeation is, at least partially, controlled by the kinetics of the surface exchange reactions. This limitation can be overcome by the addition of an activation layer; however, the permeance of activated CGO-SCTF membranes still remains lower compared to the single-phase parent perovskitic membranes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Membrane Applications for Gas Separation)

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