This project aims to develop a new generation of sustainable nanofiltration membranes made from lignin, a widely available natural material from the forest products industry. Building on our earlier progress with non-polyamide membrane chemistry, we will fabricate polyester thin-film membranes using different lignin fractions to better control membrane structure and performance. The central idea is simple: by separating lignin into more consistent fractions and using them as building blocks in membrane fabrication, we can create membranes that are more selective, more stable, and easier to scale.

The main technical targets are to improve salt and impurity separation while maintaining high water flow, and to enhance resistance to common industrial challenges, such as organic fouling and exposure to disinfectants. These improvements support longer membrane lifetime, fewer cleaning cycles, and more reliable operation in real water-treatment conditions. The project also focuses on designing a fabrication approach that remains practical for scale-up, with an emphasis on cost reduction through the use of abundant, bio-based feedstocks and streamlined processing.

The proposed technology’s key areas of impact are:

• Water Benefits: More efficient treatment and reuse of challenging water streams, which helps reduce pressure on freshwater sources and supports more sustainable industrial water management.

• GHG Emissions Reductions: Lower environmental footprint through the use of renewable raw materials and improved process efficiency, which can reduce energy demand and operational burdens in water treatment.

• Sustainability at end of life: Evaluation of how membrane materials can be handled responsibly after use, including opportunities for improved recyclability and partial degradability compared with conventional materials.

The HQP, Amirhossein Taghipour, will lead the research and development work in Dr. Mohtada Sadrzadeh’s lab, advancing this lignin-based membrane technology toward real-world testing and future adoption across water-treatment applications.