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Functional Polymer Membranes for Advanced Separation Technologies

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Membranes and Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 October 2025 | Viewed by 152

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, 79 Yingze West Street, Wanbailin District, Taiyuan 030024, China
Interests: polyimide; intrinsically microporous polymer; organic porous polymer; metal–organic framework; polymer microphase separation structure; hyper-crosslinked polymer; gas separation membrane; hollow fibre membrane

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer membranes have become indispensable in addressing global challenges in water treatment, gas separation, and energy development, owing to their unique properties and versatile applications. The emergence of novel functionalized polymers represents a significant advancement in polymer science, offering transformative potential for industrial processes and everyday life. Recognizing the critical role and rapid evolution of functionalized polymer membranes, this Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research and innovations in this dynamic field.

We invite contributions that explore the design of novel polymer membrane structures, advanced fabrication methods, functionalization strategies, and state-of-the-art characterization techniques. Additionally, we welcome studies on predictive modelling and simulation approaches for polymer structures, as well as the integration of advanced AI technologies to optimize membrane design and performance. Contributions may also address the application of functionalized membranes in gas separation, water purification, ion exchange, and energy conversion, among others.

This Special Issue encourages original articles and review articles that delve into the role of entanglements and dynamics in functionalized polymer systems. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we aim to advance the development of next-generation membranes that meet the demands of sustainability, efficiency, and performance. Join us in shaping the future of functionalized polymer membranes and their impact on science, technology, and society.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jiayou Liao
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • design of polymer membrane material structures
  • membrane fabrication methods
  • membrane functionalization materials and methods
  • research techniques and methods for polymer membranes
  • advanced AI technologies and simulation of functionalized membranes
  • advanced separation technologies of polymer membranes
  • gas separation
  • liquid separation
  • membrane separation process

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 5466 KB  
Article
Fabrication of Zein Nanoparticle-Functionalized Wheat Gluten Amyloid Fibril/Methyl Cellulose Hybrid Membranes with Efficient Performance for Water-in-Oil Emulsion Separation
by You-Ren Lai, Jun-Ying Lin, Jou-Ting Hsu, Ta-Hsien Lin, Su-Chun How and Steven S.-S. Wang
Polymers 2025, 17(17), 2409; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17172409 - 4 Sep 2025
Abstract
Considering the high stability of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, contamination from emulsified pollutants poses a long-term risk to the environment. In this study, hybrid membranes composed of wheat gluten amyloid fibrils (WGAFs) and zein nanoparticles (ZNPs) were prepared and used as a separator to [...] Read more.
Considering the high stability of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, contamination from emulsified pollutants poses a long-term risk to the environment. In this study, hybrid membranes composed of wheat gluten amyloid fibrils (WGAFs) and zein nanoparticles (ZNPs) were prepared and used as a separator to remove emulsified W/O droplets from the oily phase. ZNPs and WGAFs were synthesized through antisolvent method and fibrillation process. Next, a ZNP-functionalized wheat gluten AF/methyl cellulose (ZNP-WGAF/MC) hybrid membrane was fabricated, and its properties were investigated via various analytical techniques. Lastly, the separation efficiency of the ZNP-WGAF/MC hybrid membrane for various W/O emulsions was assessed using microscopy and light scattering. The formation of ZNPs or WGAFs was first verified via spectroscopic and microscopic methods. Our results indicated that the ZNP-WGAF/MC hybrid membranes were synthesized via chemical crosslinking coupled with the casting method. Furthermore, the incorporation of either WGAFs or ZNPs was found to improve the thermal stability and surface hydrophobicity of membranes. Finally, the separation efficiency of the ZNP-WGAF/MC hybrid membranes for various W/O emulsions was determined to be ~87–99%. This research demonstrates the potential of harnessing three-dimensional membranes composed of plant protein-based fibrils and nanoparticles to separate emulsified W/O mixtures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer Membranes for Advanced Separation Technologies)
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