ENU researchers have developed methods for modifying membranes for water purification and detection of harmful substances

Researchers of the Engineering Laboratory of the L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University have developed universal filters. They can be used not only to purify water from salts, but also to distill radioactive liquid waste.

ENU researchers are investigating methods for modifying track membranes manufactured in the Republic of Kazakhstan for water purification from salts, pesticides, petroleum products and glucose sensors, heavy metal ions.  The uniqueness of the filters lies in the use of track membranes, which are manufactured in the ENU Engineering Laboratory. The researchers use a heavy ion accelerator made of thin polymer films. Thanks to scientific developments, filters make it possible to purify water not only from salt, but also from various oily liquids, including oil and liquid radioactive waste.

"What is the appeal of our filters? They are universal. They can be used not only in simple filtration, but also in membrane distillation of radioactive liquid waste. Track membranes have a number of unique properties. However, for effective use in membrane distillation and sensing processes, modification of its surface is necessary. To this end, we have investigated ways to modify the surface by a simple and cheap method – photoinitiated grafting polymerization of various monomers. Membranes with improved characteristics have been obtained, capable of separating water-oil emulsions, used in membrane distillation for desalination of water, as well as as electrochemical sensors for the detection of lead, cadmium and glucose ions," Ilya Korolkov, senior researcher at the ENU Engineering Laboratory, responsible executor of the project said.

The simplest application of track membranes is as a filter. Previously, researchers have developed a filter that allows purifying water and making it safe to drink, but it cleanses only from microorganisms and bacteria, but not from salts, viruses, chlorine, iron, etc.

ENU researcher Arman Yeszhanov is engaged in membrane distillation. He has developed methods for producing hydrophobic membranes, which allows increasing the performance of the track membrane, respectively, and the degree of purification.

"In a few hours, we can get clean water up to several liters, depending on the diameters of the initial film.  The degree of purification showed 98-99 percent. Now we plan to publish these results in journals and then implement them. In addition to salts, we cleaned from pesticides and also obtained high values in terms of the degree of purification from liquid radioactive waste, where the degree of purification from isotopes was 95-98 percent.  Our filter is a universal product that potentially has a wide range of applications," Arman Yeszhanov clarified.

The ENU laboratory is already developing ways to modify the surface of track membranes to give them controlled hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, as well as increase their chemical activity. A hybrid track membrane with deposited nanofibers exhibits superhydrophobic properties and can be used for salt purification by membrane distillation.