Traditional chemical/physical/biological separation methods such as precipitations, flocculation, coagulations, booms, skimmers, or thermal incineration, are energy-intensive processes demanding high-capital cost investment, large footprints, and achieve low separation efficiencies, and/or generate secondary pollution. In comparison with traditional separation methods, superwetting membranes are regarded as advanced and energy-efficient technology for separation of various oil/water mixtures, including stratified and emulsified mixtures. Superwetting membranes require minimum footprints, avoid the generation of secondary pollutants, and offer high separation efficiencies. Furthermore, superwetting membranes can be integrated into various assemblies for the continuous separation of oil/water mixtures. Other interesting applications for superwetting membranes are the control of biofouling and the enhancement of antifouling properties of the separation membranes, water purification by distillation, and water decontamination by catalysis/photocatalysis.
This Research Topic focuses on superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic membranes, switchable wettability, and stimuli-responsive membranes for applications such as oil/water separation, water purification, and decontamination. It explores various 2D and 3D materials, such as polymeric membranes, metal meshes, textiles, and sponges. It also wants to explore aspects like membrane distillation, photothermal water evaporation, biofouling control, and enhanced antifouling performance. It delves into large-scale engineering applications, green fabrication methods, and design of multifunctional superwetting membranes for water separation, decontamination, and self-cleaning. The use of sustainable, renewable, and safe materials/processes is also a research focus. Novel design strategies and fabrication methodologies aim to create high-performance superwetting membranes with superior mechanical abrasion resistance, chemical anticorrosion durability, and recyclability for advanced engineering applications.
This Research Topic aims to attract original research articles, comprehensive reviews, minireviews, and brief research reports in superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic/responsive membranes for oil/water separation and water purification. We also encourage authors to submit contributions around superwetting membranes with novel research ideas focusing on design principles, sustainable materials, green fabrication methods, large-scale/continuous separations.
In this Research Topic, we invite submission of manuscripts on, but not limited to, the following:
• Design and fabrication of superhydrophobic membranes for water/oil separations using various 2D/3D membranes such as textiles, foams, metal meshes or other polymeric membranes.
• Design and fabrication of superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic membranes for oil/water separations.
• Design and fabrications of advanced superwetting membranes with switchable/ responsive wettability for oil/water separations.
• Use of renewable, recyclable materials for fabricating membranes through a sustainable methods and benign chemicals.
• Solar/thermal-assisted separation of high viscosity crude oil.
• Superwetting membranes with catalytic/photocatalytic properties for water decontamination.
• Superhydrophilic membranes with enhanced antifouling properties
• Superhydrophilic membranes with enhanced biofouling performance
Keywords:
superhydrophobic membranes, superhydrophilic membranes, switchable wettability, stimuli-responsive membranes, oil/water separation, water purification, water decontamination, sustainable membranes, 2D and 3D membranes
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Traditional chemical/physical/biological separation methods such as precipitations, flocculation, coagulations, booms, skimmers, or thermal incineration, are energy-intensive processes demanding high-capital cost investment, large footprints, and achieve low separation efficiencies, and/or generate secondary pollution. In comparison with traditional separation methods, superwetting membranes are regarded as advanced and energy-efficient technology for separation of various oil/water mixtures, including stratified and emulsified mixtures. Superwetting membranes require minimum footprints, avoid the generation of secondary pollutants, and offer high separation efficiencies. Furthermore, superwetting membranes can be integrated into various assemblies for the continuous separation of oil/water mixtures. Other interesting applications for superwetting membranes are the control of biofouling and the enhancement of antifouling properties of the separation membranes, water purification by distillation, and water decontamination by catalysis/photocatalysis.
This Research Topic focuses on superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic membranes, switchable wettability, and stimuli-responsive membranes for applications such as oil/water separation, water purification, and decontamination. It explores various 2D and 3D materials, such as polymeric membranes, metal meshes, textiles, and sponges. It also wants to explore aspects like membrane distillation, photothermal water evaporation, biofouling control, and enhanced antifouling performance. It delves into large-scale engineering applications, green fabrication methods, and design of multifunctional superwetting membranes for water separation, decontamination, and self-cleaning. The use of sustainable, renewable, and safe materials/processes is also a research focus. Novel design strategies and fabrication methodologies aim to create high-performance superwetting membranes with superior mechanical abrasion resistance, chemical anticorrosion durability, and recyclability for advanced engineering applications.
This Research Topic aims to attract original research articles, comprehensive reviews, minireviews, and brief research reports in superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic/responsive membranes for oil/water separation and water purification. We also encourage authors to submit contributions around superwetting membranes with novel research ideas focusing on design principles, sustainable materials, green fabrication methods, large-scale/continuous separations.
In this Research Topic, we invite submission of manuscripts on, but not limited to, the following:
• Design and fabrication of superhydrophobic membranes for water/oil separations using various 2D/3D membranes such as textiles, foams, metal meshes or other polymeric membranes.
• Design and fabrication of superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic membranes for oil/water separations.
• Design and fabrications of advanced superwetting membranes with switchable/ responsive wettability for oil/water separations.
• Use of renewable, recyclable materials for fabricating membranes through a sustainable methods and benign chemicals.
• Solar/thermal-assisted separation of high viscosity crude oil.
• Superwetting membranes with catalytic/photocatalytic properties for water decontamination.
• Superhydrophilic membranes with enhanced antifouling properties
• Superhydrophilic membranes with enhanced biofouling performance
Keywords:
superhydrophobic membranes, superhydrophilic membranes, switchable wettability, stimuli-responsive membranes, oil/water separation, water purification, water decontamination, sustainable membranes, 2D and 3D membranes
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.