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Selectivity control in organic solvent nanofiltration–membranes or process?

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Title: Selectivity control in organic solvent nanofiltration–membranes or process?
Authors: Peeva, Ludmila1 (AUTHOR), Oxley, Adam1 (AUTHOR), Livingston, Andrew G.1 (AUTHOR) a.livingston@qmul.ac.uk
Source: Journal of Membrane Science. Jan2026, Vol. 737, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Hydrodynamics, Polyethylene glycol, Mass transfer, Nanofiltration, Viscosity, Osmotic pressure, Molecular structure
Abstract: This study investigates how hydrodynamic conditions, solute concentration, and solute molecular architecture influence organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) performance using polyethylene glycols (PEGs) of different molecular weights and structures. First, a fixed PEG concentration (10 g/L) in acetonitrile was used to evaluate the impact of hydrodynamic conditions by varying feed spacer thickness in a SEPA cell at 10 bar. Rejections ranged from near 0 % (open channel) to nearly 100 % (with spacers) using the same membrane, attributed primarily to differences in concentration polarisation. Film theory-based models closely matched experimental data, confirming mass transfer limitations as key rejection determinants. Additional experiments with varying flow rates and spacer-membrane combinations reinforced these findings. Next, the effect of PEG concentration was examined. As concentration increased, flux became highly non-linear and approached limiting values above 20 g/L, consistent with concentration polarisation-driven limiting flux. Mass transfer coefficients decreased with increasing PEG molecular weight and revealed a stronger-than-expected dependence on viscosity, reinforcing the significance of viscosity variation in the boundary layer. Finally, the impact of PEG molecular architecture was studied by comparing linear, 4-arm, and 8-arm star-shaped PEGs of equivalent molecular weight (∼10 kDa). While intrinsic membrane rejections were similar, branched PEGs exhibited significantly higher apparent rejections and reduced sensitivity to concentration polarisation. This improved performance was attributed to lower solution viscosity and more compact molecular structure, which enhanced mass transfer. Overall, the study highlights the dominant role of mass transfer and solute properties in OSN membrane separations and emphasizes the need to control flow conditions and experimental design. [Display omitted] • The impact of hydrodynamics on OSN performance was evaluated using PEGs. •Concentration polarisation, altered by flow conditions, dominate observed rejection. •Higher PEG concentrations induce limiting flux due to viscosity and polarisation. •Branched PEGs show higher apparent rejection and less sensitivity to polarisation. •Film theory modelling confirms mass transfer limitations govern PEG rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Membrane Science is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 189058857
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Selectivity control in organic solvent nanofiltration–membranes or process?
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Peeva%2C+Ludmila%22">Peeva, Ludmila</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Oxley%2C+Adam%22">Oxley, Adam</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Livingston%2C+Andrew+G%2E%22">Livingston, Andrew G.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> a.livingston@qmul.ac.uk</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Membrane+Science%22">Journal of Membrane Science</searchLink>. Jan2026, Vol. 737, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
– Name: Subject
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hydrodynamics%22">Hydrodynamics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polyethylene+glycol%22">Polyethylene glycol</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mass+transfer%22">Mass transfer</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nanofiltration%22">Nanofiltration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Viscosity%22">Viscosity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Osmotic+pressure%22">Osmotic pressure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Molecular+structure%22">Molecular structure</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study investigates how hydrodynamic conditions, solute concentration, and solute molecular architecture influence organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) performance using polyethylene glycols (PEGs) of different molecular weights and structures. First, a fixed PEG concentration (10 g/L) in acetonitrile was used to evaluate the impact of hydrodynamic conditions by varying feed spacer thickness in a SEPA cell at 10 bar. Rejections ranged from near 0 % (open channel) to nearly 100 % (with spacers) using the same membrane, attributed primarily to differences in concentration polarisation. Film theory-based models closely matched experimental data, confirming mass transfer limitations as key rejection determinants. Additional experiments with varying flow rates and spacer-membrane combinations reinforced these findings. Next, the effect of PEG concentration was examined. As concentration increased, flux became highly non-linear and approached limiting values above 20 g/L, consistent with concentration polarisation-driven limiting flux. Mass transfer coefficients decreased with increasing PEG molecular weight and revealed a stronger-than-expected dependence on viscosity, reinforcing the significance of viscosity variation in the boundary layer. Finally, the impact of PEG molecular architecture was studied by comparing linear, 4-arm, and 8-arm star-shaped PEGs of equivalent molecular weight (∼10 kDa). While intrinsic membrane rejections were similar, branched PEGs exhibited significantly higher apparent rejections and reduced sensitivity to concentration polarisation. This improved performance was attributed to lower solution viscosity and more compact molecular structure, which enhanced mass transfer. Overall, the study highlights the dominant role of mass transfer and solute properties in OSN membrane separations and emphasizes the need to control flow conditions and experimental design. [Display omitted] • The impact of hydrodynamics on OSN performance was evaluated using PEGs. •Concentration polarisation, altered by flow conditions, dominate observed rejection. •Higher PEG concentrations induce limiting flux due to viscosity and polarisation. •Branched PEGs show higher apparent rejection and less sensitivity to polarisation. •Film theory modelling confirms mass transfer limitations govern PEG rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Membrane Science is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.memsci.2025.124613
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Hydrodynamics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Polyethylene glycol
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mass transfer
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nanofiltration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Viscosity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Osmotic pressure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Molecular structure
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Selectivity control in organic solvent nanofiltration–membranes or process?
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Peeva, Ludmila
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Oxley, Adam
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Livingston, Andrew G.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Text: Jan2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 03767388
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            – Type: volume
              Value: 737
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Membrane Science
              Type: main
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