SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
·
2026
·
IF 9
Wei Shao,Xiuling Liu,Zhaojing Jing,Ziyang Guo,Xiaowen Huo,Weihao Zhang,Haitao Wang,Na Chang
The selective separation of lithium and magnesium by conventional nanofiltration (NF) membranes remains a major challenge for lithium extraction from salt-lake brine. This difficulty results from the extremely fast and disordered nature of the interfacial polymerization process, which hampers precise control over the pore size of the separation layer. In this study, to utilize the hollow internal cavity of the macrocycle, calix[4]arene was directly sulfonated to prepare hydrophilic sulfonated calix[4]arene (SC[4]A), which was incorporated as an aqueous-phase additive into the piperazine (PIP) solution. NF membranes were then fabricated via interfacial polymerization (IP) on a self-made polysulfone (PSf) substrate. The results demonstrated that SC[4]A effectively accelerated the kinetics of the IP reaction. More importantly, SC[4]A, which was ionically bonded into the polyamide (PA), served as the additional mass transfer channel and formed a separation layer with a smaller free volume, narrower pore size distribution, and enhanced negative surface charge. The prepared TFC-0.5 membrane exhibited a Li + /Mg 2+ separation factor as high as 28.90, a 2.19-fold increase over the pristine membrane. Additionally, the incorporation of SC[4]A improved the hydrophilicity of the membrane surface, imparting superior antifouling properties to the modified membrane. By precisely regulating the IP process and tailoring the free volume of the separation layer, this study provides a new strategy for developing high-performance lithium‑magnesium separation NF membranes.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
·
2026
·
IF 9.1
Yingzhen Wu,Enshen Shi,Haojie Song,Lu Li,Chungang Xie,Yongjiang Yu,Yanan Liu,Zhongyi Jiang
Nanofiltration membranes possess great potential in ion separation, meanwhile, the pore and surface properties determining membrane permeance and selectivity, should be designed and regulated. Herein, we utilized reactive ionic liquid (1-aminoethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, AMIM-BF 4 ) simultaneously as aqueous phase additive and surface modifier to regulate pore and surface properties for fast and efficient Li + /Mg 2+ separation. AMIM-BF 4 was added in aqueous phase to undergo a competitive interfacial polymerization with polyethyleneimine (PEI), effectively increasing the average pore size of the membrane. Then, amino group in AMIM-BF 4 could react with the unreacted acyl chloride groups to modify membrane surface, increasing its positive charge and hydrophilicity. Accordingly, the membrane possessed high water permeance of 33.3 L m −2 h −1 bar −1 with MgCl 2 rejection rate of 98.9%, and separation factor of 22.7 for the mixed solution with magnesium-to‑lithium ratio (MLR) of 50:1. Meanwhile, during the 168-h continuous cross-flow test, the rejection rate for MgCl 2 remained above 98.1% with stable water permeance. Moreover, through the three-stage nanofiltration experiment, the membrane could reduce the MLR of simulated salt lake brine with 2000 ppm from 50:1 to only 0.02:1, demonstrating its potential for efficient lithium enrichment from complex brine.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
·
2025
·
IF 4.3
Zhiyuan Yi,Kai Qu,Linlong Zhou,Qing Li,Zhi Xu
Metal-organic framework (MOF) glasses offer promising potential for membrane-based separations due to their excellent processability and structural versatility. However, their inherently disordered pore structures often lead to reduced porosity and limited ion transport performance. Here, we present a controlled unzipping polymer decomposition (CUPD) strategy for fabricating ZIF-62-based glass membrane featuring interconnected and negatively charged transport channels. Polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSS) is introduced as a sacrificial porogen during the melt-quenching process, wherein partial decomposition of its carbon backbone templates the formation of interconnected micropores. Simultaneously, the sulfonate groups stabilized by coordination with Zn sites, imparted negative surface charge to the channels, facilitating the selective ions transport. The optimized membrane fabricated by CUPD strategy achieves a Li + permeation rate of 0.64 mol m −2 h −1 , which is 60-fold higher than that of the pristine ZIF-62 glass membrane. This work provides a novel inspiration for constructing MOF-based membranes with interconnected channels with tunable property for advanced ion separation applications.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
膜分离技术
·
无机非金属材料
·
化学工程
·
离子传输
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
Advanced Science
·
2024
·
IF 14.3
Wentong Meng,Sifan Chen,Pu Chen,Feng Gao,Jianguo Lu,Yang Hou,Qinggang He,Xiaoli Zhan,Qinghua Zhang
Positively charged nanofiltration membranes have attracted much attention in the field of lithium extraction from salt lakes due to their excellent ability to separate mono- and multi-valent cations. However, the thicker selective layer and the lower affinity for Li + result in lower separation efficiency of the membranes. Here, PEI-P membranes with highly efficient Li + /Mg 2+ separation performance are prepared by introducing highly lithophilic 4,7,10-Trioxygen-1,13-tridecanediamine (DCA) on the surface of PEI-TMC membranes using a post-modification method. Characterization and experimental results show that the utilization of the DCA-TMC crosslinked structure as a space-confined layer to inhibit the diffusion of the monomer not only increases the positive charge density of the membrane but also reduces its thickness by ≈35% and presents a unique coffee-ring structure, which ensures excellent water permeability and rejection of Mg 2+ . The ion–dipole interaction of the ether chains with Li + facilitates Li + transport and improves the Li + /Mg 2+ selectivity ( S Li,Mg = 23.3). In a three-stage nanofiltration process for treating simulated salt lake water, the PEI-P membrane can reduce the Mg 2+ /Li + ratio of the salt lake by 400-fold and produce Li 2 CO 3 with a purity of more than 99.5%, demonstrating its potential application in lithium extraction from salt lakes.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
环境工程
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
·
2022
·
IF 9.136
Lu Tao,Xiaojuan Wang,Fadong Wu,Binghui Wang,Congjie Gao,Xueli Gao
Monovalent cation permselective membranes (MCPMs) manifest remarkable effectiveness and potential in lithium extraction whereas facing the challenge to achieve high permselectivity and high Li + permeability simultaneously. In this work, Zn-TCPP, a kind of two-dimensional nanosheet with abundant negative charges, was successfully synthesized via surfactant-assisted method and introduced into surface cross-linked SPES membrane to fabricate MCPMs. The physicochemical properties, electrochemical properties and Li + /Mg 2+ separation performance of resulted MCPMs were systematically estimated. As ions passing through the membrane, dense PVA/GA crosslinked layer separated Li + and Mg 2+ by pore-size sieving effect. Afterwards, uniformly distributed Zn-TCPP nanosheets with rich negative charges and physically adsorbed water molecules elevated the charge density and water content in the membrane and thus expedited Li + transporting. Therefore, high Li + /Mg 2+ permselectivity ( P Mg 2 + Li + = 8.99) and Li + permeation flux ( J Li + = 9.12 × 10 −9 mol cm −2 ∙s −1 ) were obtained. Furthermore, membrane surface resistance was reduced from 108.99 Ω cm 2 to 24.12 Ω∙cm 2 . This study points out the feasibility of the new method for accelerating monovalent ion transport and alleviating the restriction between ion permeation and permselectivity in selective ion exchange membranes.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
环境工程
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
OPTICAL MATERIALS
·
2020
·
IF 2.779
Xingzhen Huang,Kan Huang,Liken Chen,Nan Chen,Ruoshan Lei,Shilong Zhao,Shiqing Xu
The Y 2 Ti 2 O 7 : Er 3+ /Yb 3+ phosphors co-doped with Li + and Li + /Mg 2+ ions were prepared via solid state reaction method. The effects of Li + and Mg 2+ co-doping on the structure and morphology of Y 2 Ti 2 O 7 : Er 3+ /Yb 3+ phosphors were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) observations. The 980 nm excitation assisted UC luminescence intensity for green and red band was enhanced by 8.7 and 14.3 times respectively after co-doping with Li + /Mg 2+ ions in Y 2 Ti 2 O 7 : Er 3+ /Yb 3+ , which could be explained based on the variations in crystal structure and particle size. Using the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) technique, the impact of 980 nm pump power on the thermometric behaviors was studied based on the thermally coupled levels of 2 H 11/2 and 4 S 3/2 of Er 3+ ions. Due to the unique thermal properties of the Y 2 Ti 2 O 7 host, the temperature increment caused by laser thermal effect was minimized, benefiting the consistency of FIR data over a wide range of pump power density. Besides, a high relative sensor sensitivity of 1.17%K −1 was obtained for Y 2 Ti 2 O 7 : Er 3+ /Yb 3+ /Li + /Mg 2+ phosphors. These characteristics may make the studied system applicable for optical temperature sensor with high accuracy.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
光学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
·
2021
·
IF 13.273
Xianbo Yu,Guangyu Zhao,Huihuang Huang,Chao Liu,Pengbo Lyu,Naiqing Zhang
Li + /Mg 2+ hybrid-ion batteries (LMIBs), integrating the merits of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and magnesium ion batteries (MIBs) are considered as an attractive alternative of next generation metal secondary batteries. Due to the sluggish solid-state diffusion kinetic induced by the strong Coulombic interaction between Mg 2+ and host materials, pristine MoS 2 with interplanar distance of 0.62 nm exhibits inferior electrochemical performance for LMIBs with only Li + intercalation. Herein, we report an oxygen-incorporated MoS 2 (O-MoS 2 ) nanoflower anchored on graphene (O-MoS 2 /G) with the interplanar distance of O-MoS 2 from 0.62 nm expanded to 0.885 nm. Even at 1000 mA g −1 , the expanded interlayer spacing can still ensure the Mg 2+ and Li + intercalation/deintercalation into/from the host material simultaneously. Meanwhile, this configuration can effectively reduce the diffusion barrier of metal ions , increase the intercalated number of ions, and enhance the stability of structure. In addition, we found and demonstrated the intercalated Li + had a boosting effect to the intercalation kinetics of Mg 2+ . Compared with the MIBs, the migration energy barriers of Mg 2+ under the existence of Li + intercalating into MoS 2 is reduced from 0.36 eV to 0.16 eV, meanwhile the corresponding intercalation capacity and diffusion coefficient of Mg 2+ are 1.38 and 7.1 times as large as MIBs. As expect, the O-MoS 2 /G exhibits superior rate capability and cycling performance with a reversible capacity of 123.3 mAh g −1 after 2000 cycles charge–discharge processes at 1000 mA g −1 .
研究领域:
材料科学
·
电化学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
DESALINATION
·
2025
·
IF 9.8
Xinyue Zhang,Shichen Xiao,Zerong Miao,Xudong Wang,Jin Wang,Jiajin Hao,Junwei Xin,Huihui Zhang,Lei Wang
The selective recovery of lithium from salt-lake brines using functionalized polyamide nanofiltration (NF) membranes offers a promising strategy to alleviate the global lithium resource shortage. However, the structural controllability of functional fillers and their interfacial compatibility remain critical challenges in constructing high-performance NF membranes. In this study, a polyamide NF membrane was modified with defect-engineered and gel-state UiO-66-NH 2 nanoparticles, combined with an external electric field, to achieve efficient Li + /Mg 2+ separation. By tuning the HCl/HAc ratio, the nucleation and growth of UiO-66-NH 2 were regulated, yielding gel-state nanoparticles with abundant defects (defect coordination number ~ 0.73), excellent dispersibility, and high protonation, facilitating interfacial integration with the polyamide matrix. In situ characterization revealed that defect-engineered and gel-state UiO-66-NH 2 enhanced the membrane's positive surface charge and formed a “spinal-like” microstructure. Under the optimal acid ratio, the nanoparticles promoted higher polyamide cross-linking, reducing the average effective pore size from 0.54 to 0.46 nm, enabling synergistic control of both physical and chemical membrane properties. With an applied electric field, monovalent ion dehydration and migration were accelerated, enhancing ion decoupling and achieving a separation factor of 83.87 for Li + /Mg 2+ at an applied current of 6 mA. This work demonstrates a triple synergistic mechanism involving interface regulation, structural optimization, and electric-field coupling, highlighting the pivotal role of gel-state defect-engineered MOFs in tuning membrane microstructure and surface charge. This finding provides new theoretical guidance and design strategies for efficient lithium recovery using electric-field assisted functional nanofiber membranes.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
膜技术
·
分离科学
·
电化学
·
纳米技术
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
Nature Communications
·
2026
·
IF 18.1
Liu Lingfeng,Huang Jian’an,Wang Ying,Pang Dekang,Ding Yuling,Liu Jiamin,Zhang Xiaojing,Guo Changsheng,Jia Jianbo,Zhang Mengchen,Luan Tiangang
The quest for sustainable energy transition has intensified the demand for lithium extraction from salt-lake brines, necessitating advanced membranes for high-efficiency Li + /Mg 2+ separation. Integrating porous frameworks and two-dimensional (2D) scaffolds has shown promise for fabricating ion-permselective membranes, but is hampered by poor processability. Here we transform crystalline frameworks into porous liquids (PLs), and embed them within graphene oxide (GO) laminates to engineer an ultrathin and defect-free GO/PLs membrane. Discrete porous guests are uniformly confined within 2D nanofluidic channels mediated by a sterically hindered solvent. The GO/PLs membrane exhibits ultrahigh Li + permeance (0.75 mol m −2 h −1 ) and exceptional Li + /Mg 2+ selectivity (154.4) by regulating ion dehydration and ion-to-channel interactions. Efficient lithium extraction from simulated brine is demonstrated, reversing the Mg/Li ratio of 40 to achieve a Li/Mg ratio of 4.6. This work reports the manufacturing strategy of hybrid membranes based on porous frameworks and 2D materials for precise ion separation.
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Membranes
·
2026
·Vol. 16
·期 8
·270
·
IF 4.2
Yu-Tong Yin,Rui Jia,Zhen-Liang Xu,Sen Wang,Rui Han
Extracting lithium from salt-lake brines boasts distinct advantages including low production cost, low energy consumption and low environmental risks, and will serve as a primary supply source of lithium salts in the future. This trend raises higher demands for the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of lithium extraction technologies. Nanofiltration (NF) membranes, renowned for their superior discrimination between monovalent and divalent ions, have been extensively utilized to obtain Li + from Mg 2+ -rich saline brines. In this study, positively charged NF membranes aimed at Li + /Mg 2+ fractionation were fabricated via surfactant-interlayer-assisted interfacial polymerization (SIAIP). Catechol (CA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) were utilized to construct the CA/PEI interlayer, and oil-phase dodecyl phosphate (DDP) was used as an additive for interfacial polymerization (IP). The strongly bonded CA/PEI nanoaggregates improved interlayer stability and preserved the positive charge of the double-layer membrane. DDP adsorbed piperazine (PIP) at the two-phase interface through electrostatic interactions, accelerating PIP diffusion and forming a thick polyamide (PA) layer with uniform pores. The combination of CA/PEI interlayer and DDP synergistically enhanced size-sieving and Donnan effects. With MgCl 2 and LiCl rejections of 97.9% and 36.2% respectively, the optimized membrane shows superior selectivity for Li + over Mg 2+ . Moreover, the membrane exhibited weak electrostatic screening and concentration polarization, showing excellent operational stability under varied Mg 2+ -Li + ratios and feed concentrations.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
·
2025
·
IF 9
Yinghong Wang,Ping Xiong,Wei Yang,Zhitong Zhang,Xiaoling Xu,Liming Yang,Huiji Xiao,Kai Zhang,Zhenzhou Wang,Wei Zhang,Xubiao Luo
Highly selective Mg 2+ /Li + separation membranes hold significant application prospects in extraction of lithium. However, the high Mg 2+ /Li + concentration ratio commonly found in brines and the very close hydrated ionic radii of the two ions limit the separation efficiency of conventional membranes. This study proposes a dual-phase supramolecular synergistic sieving nanofiltration membrane design strategy. Leveraging the unique molecular recognition unit and hydrophilic external interface characteristics of γ -cyclodextrin ( γ -CD), combined with the multifunctional positively charged groups of histidine, the strategy achieves the directional construction of highly efficient Mg 2+ /Li + sieving channels within the membrane. The strategy is accomplished through the synergistic action of γ -CD’s selective capture of high-valent Mg 2 + and histidine’s electrostatic repulsion effect. During the Mg 2 + /Li + separation process, the fabricated γ -CD-histidine composite membrane (HCF membrane) demonstrates outstanding comprehensive performance. It achieves a remarkably high Li + /Mg 2+ separation factor of 28.98 and maintains excellent separation performance across a wide Mg 2+ /Li + ratio range (1:1–100:1). The enhanced hydrophilicity of the HCF membrane significantly boosts permeate flux, while also exhibiting long-term operational stability and biofouling resistance during continuous operation under high Mg 2+ /Li + ratios. This research enables the high-selectivity separation of Mg 2+ and Li + with concurrent Li + enrichment, demonstrating significant potential for lithium extraction from salt-lake.
研究领域:
膜科学
·
超分子化学
·
分离技术
·
材料科学
·
电化学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
·
2024
·
IF 8.1
Tong Wen,Yunliang Zhao,Bowen Kuang,Yupeng Sun,Ying Li,Huatao Wang,Licai Chen,Renbo Gao,Lingjie Zhang,Tingting Zhang
The novel two-dimensional (2D) channel membranes have great potential for effective Li + /Mg 2+ separation due to the rapid ion transport and precise adjustment of their channels. However, the solution composition greatly affects the control of channel height, resulting in an unsatisfactory selectivity performance. Herein, the 2D montmorillonite membranes are used to understand the causes of channel instability and explore the effective solutions. It is found that the changes in solution component can enlarge the channel height by changing the cross-linking constraint of Fe 3+ between MMT nanosheets, thus leading to a weak sieving effect. To improve the channel constraint and its Li + /Mg 2+ separation, the end face and interfacial layer constraint of nanosheets are proposed. As an effective strategy to strengthen the constraint effect, glutathione can modify the end faces of nanosheets and enhance the mutual binding force between them through its oxidative transformation. Besides, the construction of an interfacial layer can also limit channel swelling by altering the membrane hydration and wetting. These strategies will also form a synergistic regulatory effect. Consequently, a superior membrane is obtained and presents an improved selectivity of 8.89 at 100:1 Mg 2+ /Li + ratio. These innovative approaches offer a valuable framework for creating high-performance 2D channel membranes, which can also support their wider application in the Li + /Mg 2+ separation.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
化学工程
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）