Evaluation of MXene-based membrane for antifouling properties against microplastics

Abstract

Microplastic (MP), an emerging pollutant, is currently one of the most significant anthropogenic threats in the world. MPs can persist in the environment for an extended period, and it is nearly impossible to fully degrade them. The increased accumulation of MPs especially in water sources may potentially impact our drinking water quality, as well as damage the ecosystem. To remove MPs during water treatment process, advanced technologies have been introduced and membrane technology is the more common and widely used technology. However, presence of microplastics and other substances in raw water give rise to membrane fouling, impacting the performance of filtration systems. Even though there are many methods of mitigating membrane fouling caused by microplastics, there is limited strategies targeted at the membrane use. As such, the study of MXene-based membrane for mitigating membrane fouling by microplastics was performed and results were discussed.