Electrospun nanofibrous membranes for membrane distillation application-A dynamic life cycle assessment (dLCA) approach

Membrane distillation (MD) for water desalination and purification has been gaining prominence to address the issues relating to water security and the destruction of aquatic ecosystems globally. Recent advances in electrospun membranes for MD application have improved antifouling and anti-wetting performance. However, the environmental impacts associated with producing novel electrospun membranes still need to be clarified. It is imperative to quantify and analyze the tradeoffs between membrane performance and impacts at the early stages of research on these novel membranes. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an appropriate tool to systematically account for environmental performance, all the way from raw material extraction to the disposal of any product, process, or technology. The inherent lack of detailed datasets for emerging technologies contributes to significant uncertainties, making the adoption of traditional LCA challenging. A dynamic LCA (dLCA) is performed to guide the sustainable design and selection of emerging electrospun poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) electrospun membrane (E-PH) and hybridizing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on E-PH membrane (E-PDMS) for dyeing wastewater treatment technologies. The associated environmental impacts are related to the high energy demands required for fabricating electrospun nanofibrous membranes. After LCA analysis, the EPDMS membrane emerges as a promising membrane, due to the relatively low impact/benefit ratio and the high performance achieved in treating dyeing wastewater.

Automated summary

Membrane distillation is an important technology for water desalination and purification, addressing global water security and aquatic ecosystem destruction. Recent improvements in electrospun membranes have enhanced their performance. However, the environmental impacts of producing these membranes need further clarification. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a suitable tool to evaluate the environmental performance of novel membranes, but the lack of detailed datasets for emerging technologies poses challenges. A dynamic LCA is performed to guide the sustainable design and selection of electrospun membranes for dyeing wastewater treatment, highlighting the high energy demands associated with their production. The EPDMS membrane emerges as a promising option due to its low impact/benefit ratio and high performance in treating dyeing wastewater.