CNIE seminar with Yanan Liu

“Improving anti-fouling and mechanical properties of water treatment membranes via a nature-inspired methodology”

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As water treatment technology, membrane technology possesses unique advantages including low energy consumption, low operating temperature and high efficiency. However, there are still some drawbacks that stop the development of membrane technology, such as the trade-offs between permeability and antifouling property as well as permeability and mechanical strength. In recent years, inspirations to improve membrane’s performance has been drawn from nature, such as the hydrophilic polymer brushes in the kidney and natural cell membrane for antifouling property as well as the organic-inorganic hybrid structures in nacres and bones for mechanical strength. Hence, based on the lessons from nature, membrane performances are enhanced including permeability, antifouling property and mechanical strength, through synergistically regulating the chemical composition and physical morphology.

Bio: Yanan Liu obtained her PhD in Chemical Engineering and Technology in Professor Zhongyi Jiang's group at Tianjin University (CN) on bioinspired membranes and membrane processes for water treatment. She fabricated high performance membrane with high flux and excellent antifouling properties. She joined the Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering in July 2019. Her projects focus on functionalised membrane materials with high selectivity, high permeability and excellent anti-fouling for bio-separation and water purification. In 2020, she was awarded a CNIE inspiration grant holder to continue her work on membranes for water treatment.