Energy-Efficient and Eco-Conscious Elimination of Microplastics and Toxic Contaminants Using 3D MOF Integrated Hollow Fiber Membrane Via Ultrafiltration

Energy-Efficient and Eco-Conscious Elimination of Microplastics and Toxic Contaminants Using 3D MOF Integrated Hollow Fiber Membrane Via Ultrafiltration | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Energy-Efficient and Eco-Conscious Elimination of Microplastics and Toxic Contaminants Using 3D MOF Integrated Hollow Fiber Membrane Via Ultrafiltration Muttanna Venkatesh, Arun Mohan Isloor, Ramin Farnood, Hilda Porawati This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9032012/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted 13 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The rapid build-up of hazardous pollutants from industrialization has led to contamination of aquatic ecosystems with microplastics (MPs), dyes, and heavy metals, creating environmental and public health risks that necessitate effective advanced water purification methods. Traditional techniques are often inefficient, expensive, and cause secondary pollution, emphasizing the need for advanced membrane-based treatments. In this study, we developed an innovative Polyethersulfone hollow fiber membrane (HFM) embedded with a hierarchical ZIF-8@NH 2 -MIL125(Ti) Metal-Organic Framework composite for efficient water purification. Detailed physicochemical characterization confirmed the successful synthesis of the MOF composite. The synergistic effects of ZIF-8 and NH 2 -MIL125(Ti) MOFs improved the membranes' hydrophilicity, Pure Water Flux (PWF), anti-fouling ability, and rejection performance. The composite was integrated into the polymer matrix to produce the HFM via the Non-Solvent Induced Phase Separation method. Additional tests, including Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, contact angle measurement, atomic force microscopy, a Universal Testing Machine, and Membrane Zeta Potential analysis, showed improved surface structure, mechanical strength, and wettability. Performance testing showed a notable increase in PWF from 90.49 L·m − 2 ·h − 1 for the ZM-0 to 159.07 L·m − 2 ·h − 1 for the ZM-2 membrane, with rejection efficiencies of 36.3% and 97% for P(St-co-MMA) microplastics, 67.66% and 99.5% for Crystal Violet, 77% and 86% for Reactive Orange 16, 48.4% and 87% for Hg 2+ , and 57.9% and 69.8% for Pb 2+ , respectively. This research highlights that an energy-efficient MOF-engineered HFMs enables high-performance, low-energy removal of diverse aquatic pollutants, offering a sustainable platform for advanced filtration technologies. Further development could enable scaling for industrial use, supporting the goal of clean water access. Metal-Organic Framework Water Treatment Hollow Fiber Membrane Technology Ultrafiltration Microplastics Dyes and Heavy Metals Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Tables 1 to 5 are available in the Supplementary Files section. Supplementary Files Table1.docx Table2.docx Table3.docx Table4.docx Table5.docx SupplementaryInformation.docx Graabstract.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 16 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 09 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 07 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 05 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 30 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 30 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 30 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 28 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 23 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 05 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 04 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9032012","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":616413300,"identity":"7c0ed318-fe9f-4eb4-bb90-9b4a22fb05fe","order_by":0,"name":"Muttanna Venkatesh","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"National Institute of Technology Karnataka","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Muttanna","middleName":"","lastName":"Venkatesh","suffix":""},{"id":616413301,"identity":"6af9f841-7945-43ce-952a-17dc05d4c25c","order_by":1,"name":"Arun Mohan 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Additional tests, including Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, contact angle measurement, atomic force microscopy, a Universal Testing Machine, and Membrane Zeta Potential analysis, showed improved surface structure, mechanical strength, and wettability. Performance testing showed a notable increase in PWF from 90.49 L\u0026middot;m\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026middot;h\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e for the ZM-0 to 159.07 L\u0026middot;m\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026middot;h\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e for the ZM-2 membrane, with rejection efficiencies of 36.3% and 97% for P(St-co-MMA) microplastics, 67.66% and 99.5% for Crystal Violet, 77% and 86% for Reactive Orange 16, 48.4% and 87% for Hg\u003csup\u003e2+\u003c/sup\u003e, and 57.9% and 69.8% for Pb\u003csup\u003e2+\u003c/sup\u003e, respectively. 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