Enhancing rejection of endocrine disrupting compounds by nanofiltration membrane: Dominant role of hydrophilic coordination barrier layer.

The removal of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) from water/wastewater is of significant importance. However, current nanofiltration (NF) membranes exhibit limited water permeance and hydrophobic EDCs rejection rates. Herein, we fabricated a novel NF membrane intercalated with the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine-vanadium (DOPA-V) complex barrier layer. The DOPA-V intercalated NF membrane possessed a notable water permeance of ~38 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1, thanks to the formation of a thin and loosely structured PA layer in comparison to the control, as well as the gutter effect optimizing the pathway of water molecule transport induced by the DOPA-V layer. The rejections of methylparaben, nonylphenol, bisphenol AF, propiconazole, dioctyl phthalate, and heptachlorobiphenyl by the DOPA-V intercalated NF membrane were both enhanced compared with those of the control. The enhanced rejection of hydrophobic EDCs by the DOPA-V intercalated NF membrane was primarily dominated by the barrier role of DOPA-V layer. According to the resistance-in-series model, DOPA-V predominated the membrane resistance to hydrophobic EDCs, resulting in a reduction of 68.8 %, 76.5 %, 58.0 %, 58.1 %, 63.0 %, and 72.0 %, respectively, in the diffusion rates of those hydrophobic EDCs compared to the control. This research offers a novel strategy on customizing NF membranes to effectively remove specific trace organic contaminants from water/wastewater. [Display omitted] • DOPA-V intercalated NF membrane shows superior hydrophobic EDC rejection. • Enhanced water permeance achieved with DOPA-V NF membrane. • DOPA-V layer significantly reduces hydrophobic EDC diffusion rates. • DOPA-V NF membrane demonstrates stability and reliability in long-term use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]