Targeted Construction of Highly Selective Nanofiltration Membranes for Lithium-Magnesium Separation Based on the Sieving Mechanisms and Separation Models

Shichen Xiao; Xinyue Zhang; Xudong Wang; Lei Wang

doi:10.7536/PC240814

Prog Chem ›› 2025, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (6) : 868-881. DOI: 10.7536/PC240814

Review

Targeted Construction of Highly Selective Nanofiltration Membranes for Lithium-Magnesium Separation Based on the Sieving Mechanisms and Separation Models

Shichen Xiao ¹ ,
Xinyue Zhang ¹ ,
Xudong Wang ¹^,² ,
Lei Wang ¹^,²^,^*

Author information +

History +

Abstract

As a globally strategic resource， lithium resources are crucial for the development of new energy sources. Due to the similar physical and chemical properties of lithium and magnesium， lithium extraction from saline lakes with high Mg/Li ratios is a great challenge. Therefore， it is of great significance to reverse customize nanofiltration （NF） membranes with high performance according to targeted applications. This article discusses the separation mechanisms such as size exclusion， dehydration effect， Donnan effect， and dielectric exclusion， guiding composite film creation for excellent Li⁺/Mg²⁺ sieving from a theoretical direction. Besides， based on the above separation mechanisms， this paper first comprehensively summarizes existing models （non-equilibrium thermodynamic model， charge model， steric hindrance pore model， etc.） for evaluating composite film parameters， which effectively reduces the number of experiments for the preparation of high-performance NF film in the early stage. Finally， we discuss the importance of utilizing the synergy of principles and models to jointly guide the construction of NF membranes that can effectively separate Li⁺/Mg²⁺ and point out that in the future， the structural parameters of the customized NF membranes should be more precise， and the construction of the separation models should be more relevant to the real scenario， so as to better guide the synthesis of NF films with superior separation performance.

Contents

1 Introduction

2 Exploration of separation mechanisms

2.1 Size exclusion

2.2 Dehydration effect

2.3 Donnan effect

2.4 Dielectric exclusion

2.5 Compensatory effect

2.6 Hydrophobic adsorption

3 Exploration of separation models

3.1 Non-equilibrium thermodynamics model

3.2 Steric hindrance pore model

3.3 Charge model

3.4 Electrostatic and steric-hindrance model

3.5 Donnan-steric pore model

3.6 Donnan-steric pore model with dielectric exclusion

3.7 Semi-empirical model

4 Conclusion and outlook

Key words

nanofiltration / lithium-magnesium separation / mono/divalent ions / separation mechanisms / separation models

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

Shichen Xiao , Xinyue Zhang , Xudong Wang , et al. Targeted Construction of Highly Selective Nanofiltration Membranes for Lithium-Magnesium Separation Based on the Sieving Mechanisms and Separation Models[J]. Progress in Chemistry. 2025, 37(6): 868-881 https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240814

References

List( Publishing order | Descend order by publishing year | Descend order by cited within ) Chart analysis

[1]	Zhao Y, Mamrol N, Tarpeh W A, Yang X, Gao C J, Van der Bruggen B. Prog. Mater. Sci., 2022, 128: 100958. Cited in this article [1]

[2]	Liang S S, Wang S, Chen L, Fang H P. Sep. Purif. Technol., 2020, 241: 116738. Cited in this article [1]

[3]	Da̧browski A, Hubicki Z, Podkościelny P, Robens E. Chemosphere, 2004, 56(2): 91. Cited in this article [1]

[4]	Srimuk P, Su X, Yoon J, Aurbach D, Presser V. Nat. Rev. Mater., 2020, 5(7): 517. Cited in this article [1]

[5]	Jiang T Y, Yu Y, Jahanger A, Balsalobre-Lorente D. Sustain. Prod. Consum., 2022, 31: 346. Cited in this article [1]

[6]	Yu S Y, Luo W L, Xie J Y, Mao Y, Xu C. Prog. Chem., 2023, 35(4): 620 (余抒阳, 罗文雷, 解晶莹, 毛亚, 徐超. 化学进展, 2023, 35(4):620). Cited in this article [1]

[7]	Wan H L, Wang Z Y, Zhang W R, He X Z, Wang C S. Nature, 2023, 623(7988): 739. Cited in this article [1]

[8]	Xiao G Z, An R, Yang J X, Ma J L. Adv. Eng. Mater., 2024, 26(12): 2301639. Cited in this article [1]

[9]	Zhang J X, Cheng Z Y, Qin X B, Gao X, Wang M, Xiang X. Desalination, 2023, 547: 116225. Cited in this article [1]

[10]	Zhao X, Zhang Q, Wu H H, Hao X C, Wang L, Huang X P. Prog. Chem., 2017, 29(7): 796 (赵旭, 张琦, 武海虹, 郝晓翠, 王亮, 黄西平. 化学进展, 2017, 29(7):796). Cited in this article [1]

[11]	Khalil A, Mohammed S, Hashaikeh R, Hilal N. Desalination, 2022, 528: 115611. Cited in this article [1]

[12]	Zhang S X, Wei X, Cao X, Peng M W, Wang M, Jiang L, Jin J. Nat. Commun., 2024, 15: 238. Cited in this article [1]

[13]	Wang Q, Zhao Y J, Liu Y, Wang Y H, Wang M, Xiang X. CIESC J., 2021, 72(6): 2905 (王琪, 赵有璟, 刘洋, 王云昊, 王敏, 项顼. 化工学报, 2021, 72(6): 2905). Cited in this article [1]

[14]	Xie X Y, Huo H Q, Zhang W H, Zhao Y, Ji Y L, Van der Bruggen B, VGao C J. Chem. Eng. J., 2024, 487: 150617. Cited in this article [1]

[15]	Zhang Y N, Yu D H, Jia C Y, Sun L Y, Tong A, Wang Y, Wang Y X, Huang L J, Tang J G. Desalination, 2023, 566: 116891. Cited in this article [1]

[16]	Zhang T, Zheng W J, Wang Q Y, Wu Z C, Wang Z W. Desalination, 2023, 546: 116205. Cited in this article [1]

[17]	Fang Y Y, Li Q, Wang X L. Prog. Chem., 2012, 24(5): 863 (方彦彦, 李倩, 王晓琳. 化学进展, 2012, 24(5): 863). Cited in this article [1]

[18]	Peng Q, Wang R Y, Zhao Z L, Lin S H, Liu Y, Dong D Y, Wang Z, He Y M, Zhu Y Z, Jin J, Jiang L. Nat. Commun., 2024, 15: 2505.

[19]	Zhu Q Y, Xu Z Y, Fu J H, Huang J, Xu Z L, Tong M, Li E C, Tang Y J. Desalination, 2023, 558: 116623. Cited in this article [1]

[20]	Zhang X Y, Zhang H H, Wang L, Wang J, Wang X D, Hao J J. Desalination, 2024, 578: 117422. Cited in this article [1]

[21]	Zhang Z L, Wang L, Cheng L, Yang H, Tang Y J, Xu Z L. Membr. Sci. Technol., 2024, 44(2): 1 (张桢琳, 王露, 程亮, 杨虎, 汤永健, 许振良. 膜科学与技术, 2024, 44(2):1). Cited in this article [1]

[22]	Liu M L, Zhang C X, Tang M J, Sun S P, Xing W H, Lee Y M. Prog. Mater. Sci., 2023, 139: 101162. Cited in this article [1]

[23]	Peng H Y, Lau S K, Yong W F. Adv. Membr., 2024, 4: 100093. Cited in this article [1]

[24]	Wu D H, Huang Y F, Yu S C, Lawless D, Feng X S. J. Membr. Sci., 2014, 472: 141. Cited in this article [3]

[25]	Li W, Shi C, Zhou A Y, He X, Sun Y W, Zhang J L. Sep. Purif. Technol., 2017, 186: 233. Cited in this article [3]

[26]	Zhu J Y, Yuan S S, Wang J, Zhang Y T, Tian M M, Van der Bruggen B. Prog. Polym. Sci., 2020, 110: 101308.

[27]	Yang Z, Ma X H, Tang C Y. Desalination, 2018, 434: 37.

[28]	Tan Z, Chen S F, Peng X S, Zhang L, Gao C J. Science, 2018, 360(6388): 518.

[29]	Wang L A, He H M, Gan Q M, Guo H, Yang Z, Xu L Z, Tang C Y. Nano Lett., 2024, 24(24): 7373.

[30]	Zhang Q, Liu H L, Sun Y M, Xiong H Y, Huang Q L, Chen K K, Xiao C F. Sep. Purif. Technol., 2025, 354: 129027.

[31]	Yuan B B, Jiang C, Li P F, Sun H H, Li P, Yuan T, Sun H X, Niu Q J. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2018, 10(49): 43057.

[32]	Zhang N, Yu H C, Zhang J D, Jiang X B, Yin S H, Zhou G L, Zhang X P, Bao J J, He G H. Sep. Purif. Technol., 2023, 327: 124818. Cited in this article [3]

[33]	Hu P, Yuan B B, Niu Q J, Chen K, Xu Z W, Tian B Z, Zhang X Z. Desalination, 2022, 527: 115553. Cited in this article [1]

[34]	Guo S W, Yuan B, Wu J C, Wang H, Luo J Q, Yuan C G. Desalination, 2024, 571: 117112. Cited in this article [1]

[35]	Liu S Q, Wang Z G, Zhao L, Fang W X, Zhang F, Jin J. J. Membr. Sci., 2023, 682: 121787. Cited in this article [1]

[36]	Liang Y Z, Zhu Y Z, Liu C, Lee K R, Hung W S, Wang Z Y, Li Y Y, Elimelech M, Jin J, Lin S H. Nat. Commun., 2020, 11: 2015.

[37]	Wang Y R, Chang H L, Jiang S, Chen J L, Wang J L, Liang H, Li G B, Tang X B. J. Membr. Sci., 2023, 677: 121615. Cited in this article [2]

[38]	Chen K, Li F Y, Wei T, Zhou H Y, Zhang T F, Zhao S C, Xie T T, Sun H X, Li P, Niu Q J. J. Membr. Sci., 2023, 684: 121882. Cited in this article [2]

[39]	Chen Z B, Hu C Z, Lu C H, Sun J Q, Zhang Y Y, Wang F Y, Qu J H. ACS Nano, 2023, 17(13): 12629. Cited in this article [1]

[40]	Richards L A, Schäfer A I, Richards B S, Corry B. Small, 2012, 8(11): 1701. Cited in this article [1]

[41]	Epsztein R, Shaulsky E, Qin M H, Elimelech M. J. Membr. Sci., 2019, 580: 316. Cited in this article [1]

[42]	Zhai X H, Wang Y L, Dai R B, Li X S, Wang Z W. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2022, 56(19): 14069. Cited in this article [1]

[43]	Liu M L, Chen Y, Hu C, Zhang C X, Fu Z J, Xu Z J, Lee Y M, Sun S P. Nat. Commun., 2024, 15: 7271. Cited in this article [2]

[44]	Shefer I, Peer-Haim O, Leifman O, Epsztein R. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2021, 55(21): 14863. Cited in this article [3]

[45]	Pavluchkov V, Shefer I, Peer-Haim O, Blotevogel J, Epsztein R. J. Membr. Sci., 2022, 648: 120358. Cited in this article [1]

[46]	Nightingale E R Jr. J. Phys. Chem., 1959, 63(9): 1381. Cited in this article [2]

[47]	Tansel B. Sep. Purif. Technol., 2012, 86: 119. Cited in this article [1]

[48]	Choi S, Yun Z, Hong S, Ahn K. Desalination, 2001, 133(1): 53. Cited in this article [1]

[49]	Guo S W, Yan X L, Luo Z Y, Zhang J H, Yuan C G. Desalination, 2024, 586: 117780. Cited in this article [1]

[50]	Xu P, Wang W, Qian X M, Wang H B, Guo C S, Li N, Xu Z W, Teng K Y, Wang Z. Desalination, 2019, 449: 57. Cited in this article [1]

[51]	Xiang J, Xie Z L, Hoang M, Zhang K S. Desalination, 2013, 315: 156. Cited in this article [1]

[52]	Liu Y H, Li Q, Wang S H, Liang M Z, Ji Y H, Cui Z Y, Younas M, Li J X, He B Q. Sep. Purif. Technol., 2023, 308: 122968. Cited in this article [1]

[53]	Zhang S Y, Zhang R N, Li R L, Zhang Z X, Li Y F, Deng H, Zhao J H, Gu T R, Long M Y, Wang X Y, Zhang S, Jiang Z Y. J. Membr. Sci., 2022, 663: 121063. Cited in this article [1]

[54]	Foo Z H, Rehman D, Bouma A T, Monsalvo S, Lienhard J H. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2023, 57(15): 6320. Cited in this article [3]

[55]	Liu X F, Feng Y X, Ni Y X, Peng H W, Li S P, Zhao Q. J. Membr. Sci., 2023, 667: 121178. Cited in this article [3]

[56]	Wang E L, Lv X H, Liu S X, Dong Q, Li J Y, Li H H, Su B W. Membranes, 2024, 14(1): 1. Cited in this article [4]

[57]	Yaroshchuk A E. Adv. Colloid Interface Sci., 2000, 85(2/3): 193. Cited in this article [1]

[58]	Zhai X H, Lin S H, Li X S, Wang Z W. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2024, 58(35): 15874. Cited in this article [1]

[59]	Rehman D, Sheriff F, Lienhard J H. Water Res., 2023, 243: 120325. Cited in this article [1]

[60]	Yaroshchuk A E. Sep. Purif. Technol., 2001, 22/23: 143. Cited in this article [1]

[61]	Freger V. Adv. Colloid Interface Sci., 2023, 319: 102972. Cited in this article [1]

[62]	Zheng H, Mou Z H, Lim Y J, Liu B, Wang R, Zhang W, Zhou K. J. Membr. Sci., 2023, 672: 121401. Cited in this article [3]

[63]	Chen Y J, Zhu Y D, Ruan Y, Zhao N N, Liu W, Zhuang W, Lu X H. Carbon, 2019, 144: 32. Cited in this article [1]

[64]	Ruan Y, Zhu Y D, Zhang Y M, Gao Q W, Lu X H, Lu L H. Langmuir, 2016, 32(51): 13778. Cited in this article [1]

[65]	Zhu Y D, Ruan Y, Zhang Y M, Chen Y J, Lu X H, Lu L H. Langmuir, 2017, 33(36): 9201. Cited in this article [1]

[66]	Xu F, Dai L H, Wu Y L, Xu Z. J. Membr. Sci., 2021, 636: 119542. Cited in this article [3]

[67]	Braeken L, Ramaekers R, Zhang Y, Maes G, Van der Bruggen B, Vandecasteele C. J. Membr. Sci., 2005, 252(1/2): 195. Cited in this article [1]

[68]	Li M, Sun F Y, Shang W T, Zhang X L, Dong W Y, Dong Z J, Zhao S F. Chem. Eng. J., 2021, 406: 126814. Cited in this article [1]

[69]	Bruni L, Bandini S. Desalination, 2009, 241(1/3): 315. Cited in this article [1]

[70]	Kedem O, Katchalsky A. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1958, 27: 229. Cited in this article [2]

[71]	Ballet G T, Gzara L, Hafiane A, Dhahbi M. Desalination, 2004, 167: 369. Cited in this article [1]

[72]	Murthy Z V P, Choudhary A. Rare Met., 2012, 31(5): 500. Cited in this article [2]

[73]	Hidalgo A M, Gómez M, Murcia M D, Gómez E, León G, Alfaro I. Membranes, 2023, 13(11): 868. Cited in this article [1]

[74]	Spiegler K S, Kedem O. Desalination, 1966, 1(4): 311. Cited in this article [1]

[75]	Nakao S I, Kimura S. J. Chem. Eng. Japan, 1982, 15(3): 200. Cited in this article [1]

[76]	Nair R R, Protasova E, Strand S, Bilstad T. Membranes, 2018, 8(3): 78. Cited in this article [2]

[77]	Fang Y Y, Bian L X, Bi Q Y, Li Q, Wang X L. J. Membr. Sci., 2014, 454: 390. Cited in this article [1]

[78]	Sun S Y, Cai L J, Nie X Y, Song X F, Yu J G. J. Water Process. Eng., 2015, 7: 210. Cited in this article [3]

[79]	Du Y C, Pramanik B K, Zhang Y, Jegatheesan V. Desalination, 2022, 541: 116020. Cited in this article [1]

[80]	Abu Seman M N, Ali N, Jalanni N A, Che Ku Yahya C K M F, Yatim N I. Sains Malays., 2023, 52(3): 941. Cited in this article [1]

[81]	Wang R Y, Lin S H. J. Membr. Sci., 2021, 620: 118809. Cited in this article [1]

[82]	Teorell T. Discuss. Faraday Soc., 1956, 21: 9. Cited in this article [1]

[83]	Meyer K H, Sievers J F. Helv. Chim. Acta, 1936, 19(1): 649. Cited in this article [1]

[84]	Imteyaz S, Rafiuddin R. RSC Adv., 2015, 5(116): 96008. Cited in this article [3]

[85]	Romero V, Gelde L, Benavente J. Membranes, 2023, 13(8): 739. Cited in this article [1]

[86]	Zehra A, Khan M M A, Rafiuddin. J. Solid State Electrochem., 2021, 25(2): 489. Cited in this article [3]

[87]	Morrison F A Jr, Osterle J F. J. Chem. Phys., 1965, 43(6): 2111. Cited in this article [1]

[88]	Nguyen D T, Pham V S. Sep. Purif. Technol., 2024, 333: 125929. Cited in this article [1]

[89]	Wang X L, Tsuru T, Togoh M, Nakao S I, Kimura S.J. Chem. Eng. Japan, 1995, 28(4): 372. Cited in this article [1]

[90]	Ding Y, Zhu J Z, Liu D. Water Environ. Res., 2021, 93(9): 1748. Cited in this article [2]

[91]	Bowen W R, Mukhtar H. J. Membr. Sci., 1996, 112(2): 263. Cited in this article [1]

[92]	Bowen W R, Mohammad A W, Hilal N. J. Membr. Sci., 1997, 126(1): 91. Cited in this article [1]

[93]	Bowen W R, Mohammad A W. Chem. Eng. Res. Des., 1998, 76(8): 885. Cited in this article [1]

[94]	Labbez C, Fievet P, Szymczyk A, Vidonne A, Foissy A, Pagetti J. J. Membr. Sci., 2002, 208(1/2): 315. Cited in this article [1]

[95]	Qadir D, Idris A, Nasir R, Abdul Mannan H, Sharif R, Mukhtar H. Chemosphere, 2023, 311: 136987. Cited in this article [1]

[96]	Mohammad A W, Hilal N, Al-Zoubi H, Darwish N A. J. Membr. Sci., 2007, 289(1/2): 40. Cited in this article [1]

[97]	Yang G, Shi H, Liu W Q, Xing W H, Xu N P. Chin. J. Chem. Eng., 2011, 19(4): 586. Cited in this article [3]

[98]	Dutta M, Bairoju S, De S. J. Membr. Sci., 2023, 675: 121577. Cited in this article [3]

[99]	Bowen W R, Welfoot J S. Chem. Eng. Sci., 2002, 57(7): 1121. Cited in this article [1]

[100]

Saavedra

, Valdés

, Velásquez

, Hernández

. ChemEngineering, 2024, 8(2): 39.

Cited in this article [1]

[101]

Roy

, Warsinger

D M

, Lienhard

J H

. Desalination, 2017, 420: 241.

Cited in this article [2]

[102]

Ghorbani

, Bayati

, Drioli

, Macedonio

, Kikhavani

, Frappa

. Membranes, 2021, 11(4): 230.

Cited in this article [1]

[103]

Cevallos-Cueva

, Rahman

M M

, Hailu

Kinfu H

, Abetz

. Chem. Eng. J., 2024, 493: 152775.

Cited in this article [1]

[104]

Wang

D X

, Wang

X L

, Tomi

, Ando

, Shintani

. J. Membr. Sci., 2006, 280(1/2): 734.

Cited in this article [1]

[105]

Wang

D X

, Wu

, Liao

Z D

, Wang

X L

, Tomi

, Ando

, Shintani

. J. Membr. Sci., 2006, 284(1/2): 384.

Cited in this article [1]

[106]

Q Y

, Cheng

, Meng

Y T

, Ma

, Guan

Y S

. Desalin. Water Treat., 2020, 190: 44.

Cited in this article [1]

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFC2904300)

Shaanxi Provincial Key Science and Technology Innovation Team Program(2024RS-CXTD-51)

Accesses

Citation

Detail

Sections

Recommended

Received	Revised	Published
2024-09-04	2024-12-25	2025-06-24
Issue Date
2025-05-15

Please choose a citation manager

Content to export

Abstract

Key words

Cite this article

{{custom_sec.title}}

{{custom_sec.title}}

References

Funding

模态框（Modal）标题

Please choose a citation manager

Content to export

Abstract

Key words

Cite this article

{{custom_sec.title}}

{{custom_sec.title}}

References

Funding