Integrated emulsion separation and fog collection with functionalized Janus wood membrane for water scarcity solutions

Abstract Global climate change has exacerbated water scarcity, while traditional water treatment technologies are often unsustainable due to high energy consumption and negative environmental impacts, posing an urgent need for a sustainable solution. This study developed a novel wood-based flexible...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kaiwen Chen, Jianyi Zhu, Cheng Hao, Haonan Zhang, Yujing Tan, Xianfu Xiao, Fengze Sun, Xuewen Han, Hui Peng, Tianyi Zhan, Jianxiong Lyu, Ning Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:npj Clean Water
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-025-00460-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850269138362040320
author Kaiwen Chen
Jianyi Zhu
Cheng Hao
Haonan Zhang
Yujing Tan
Xianfu Xiao
Fengze Sun
Xuewen Han
Hui Peng
Tianyi Zhan
Jianxiong Lyu
Ning Yan
author_facet Kaiwen Chen
Jianyi Zhu
Cheng Hao
Haonan Zhang
Yujing Tan
Xianfu Xiao
Fengze Sun
Xuewen Han
Hui Peng
Tianyi Zhan
Jianxiong Lyu
Ning Yan
author_sort Kaiwen Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Global climate change has exacerbated water scarcity, while traditional water treatment technologies are often unsustainable due to high energy consumption and negative environmental impacts, posing an urgent need for a sustainable solution. This study developed a novel wood-based flexible Janus membrane coupled with a spine structure for efficient oil-water emulsion separation and fog harvesting. The Janus wood membrane showed high separation efficiency (> 99.6%), high filtration flux (water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions exceeded 810 L/m²·h and 747 L/m²·h, respectively), and good reusability. Additionally, the introduction of spine and conical pores significantly enhanced fog collection efficiency (19.23 kg/m²·h), expanding the application potential of Janus membranes. Moreover, this Janus wood membrane offered excellent mechanical properties, dimensional stability, mildew resistance, and environmental benefits. This study underscored the potential of Janus membranes in water management and liquid separation, providing a sustainable solution to water scarcity.
format Article
id doaj-art-2cf3fb7e20314319811274b5cbf3a849
institution OA Journals
issn 2059-7037
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Clean Water
spelling doaj-art-2cf3fb7e20314319811274b5cbf3a8492025-08-20T01:53:15ZengNature Portfolionpj Clean Water2059-70372025-04-018111110.1038/s41545-025-00460-8Integrated emulsion separation and fog collection with functionalized Janus wood membrane for water scarcity solutionsKaiwen Chen0Jianyi Zhu1Cheng Hao2Haonan Zhang3Yujing Tan4Xianfu Xiao5Fengze Sun6Xuewen Han7Hui Peng8Tianyi Zhan9Jianxiong Lyu10Ning Yan11Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry UniversityResearch Institute of Wood Industry of Chinese Academy of ForestryDepartment of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of TorontoDepartment of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of TorontoCo-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry UniversityCo-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry UniversityCo-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry UniversityBeijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, College of Materials Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry UniversityCo-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry UniversityCo-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry UniversityCo-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry UniversityDepartment of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of TorontoAbstract Global climate change has exacerbated water scarcity, while traditional water treatment technologies are often unsustainable due to high energy consumption and negative environmental impacts, posing an urgent need for a sustainable solution. This study developed a novel wood-based flexible Janus membrane coupled with a spine structure for efficient oil-water emulsion separation and fog harvesting. The Janus wood membrane showed high separation efficiency (> 99.6%), high filtration flux (water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions exceeded 810 L/m²·h and 747 L/m²·h, respectively), and good reusability. Additionally, the introduction of spine and conical pores significantly enhanced fog collection efficiency (19.23 kg/m²·h), expanding the application potential of Janus membranes. Moreover, this Janus wood membrane offered excellent mechanical properties, dimensional stability, mildew resistance, and environmental benefits. This study underscored the potential of Janus membranes in water management and liquid separation, providing a sustainable solution to water scarcity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-025-00460-8
spellingShingle Kaiwen Chen
Jianyi Zhu
Cheng Hao
Haonan Zhang
Yujing Tan
Xianfu Xiao
Fengze Sun
Xuewen Han
Hui Peng
Tianyi Zhan
Jianxiong Lyu
Ning Yan
Integrated emulsion separation and fog collection with functionalized Janus wood membrane for water scarcity solutions
npj Clean Water
title Integrated emulsion separation and fog collection with functionalized Janus wood membrane for water scarcity solutions
title_full Integrated emulsion separation and fog collection with functionalized Janus wood membrane for water scarcity solutions
title_fullStr Integrated emulsion separation and fog collection with functionalized Janus wood membrane for water scarcity solutions
title_full_unstemmed Integrated emulsion separation and fog collection with functionalized Janus wood membrane for water scarcity solutions
title_short Integrated emulsion separation and fog collection with functionalized Janus wood membrane for water scarcity solutions
title_sort integrated emulsion separation and fog collection with functionalized janus wood membrane for water scarcity solutions
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-025-00460-8
work_keys_str_mv AT kaiwenchen integratedemulsionseparationandfogcollectionwithfunctionalizedjanuswoodmembraneforwaterscarcitysolutions
AT jianyizhu integratedemulsionseparationandfogcollectionwithfunctionalizedjanuswoodmembraneforwaterscarcitysolutions
AT chenghao integratedemulsionseparationandfogcollectionwithfunctionalizedjanuswoodmembraneforwaterscarcitysolutions
AT haonanzhang integratedemulsionseparationandfogcollectionwithfunctionalizedjanuswoodmembraneforwaterscarcitysolutions
AT yujingtan integratedemulsionseparationandfogcollectionwithfunctionalizedjanuswoodmembraneforwaterscarcitysolutions
AT xianfuxiao integratedemulsionseparationandfogcollectionwithfunctionalizedjanuswoodmembraneforwaterscarcitysolutions
AT fengzesun integratedemulsionseparationandfogcollectionwithfunctionalizedjanuswoodmembraneforwaterscarcitysolutions
AT xuewenhan integratedemulsionseparationandfogcollectionwithfunctionalizedjanuswoodmembraneforwaterscarcitysolutions
AT huipeng integratedemulsionseparationandfogcollectionwithfunctionalizedjanuswoodmembraneforwaterscarcitysolutions
AT tianyizhan integratedemulsionseparationandfogcollectionwithfunctionalizedjanuswoodmembraneforwaterscarcitysolutions
AT jianxionglyu integratedemulsionseparationandfogcollectionwithfunctionalizedjanuswoodmembraneforwaterscarcitysolutions
AT ningyan integratedemulsionseparationandfogcollectionwithfunctionalizedjanuswoodmembraneforwaterscarcitysolutions