articleNature CommunicationsJul 1, 2025GOLD OA

Preference of negatively charged membranes in magnesium and lithium separation by nanofiltration

Institute of Process Engineering · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences · +2 more institutions

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Abstract

Despite the traditional co-ion competition theory suggesting that positively charged nanofiltration (NF) membranes are best for Li⁺/Mg²⁺ separation, practical applications predominantly utilize negatively charged membranes. Furthermore, most biological ion channels in nature are characterized by negatively charged functional groups. To address this theoretical discrepancy, we conducted a comprehensive study that integrates experimental data with molecular dynamics simulations to explore the transport behavior of Mg²⁺ and Li⁺ through negatively charged NF membranes. When using mixed salt solutions as feed, NF membranes with strong negative charges and small pore sizes achieved a high rejection of Mg²⁺ (>90%),…

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