Sustainable Desalination Through Eco-Friendly Membrane Technology: Enhancing Performance with Biodegradable Polymers and Green Solvents

The integration of green concepts into membrane technology remains a key challenge. Among various fabrication methods, non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) is the most widely used technique. However, concerns regarding secondary pollution present significant drawbacks. This study aims to replace the NIPS method with a more sustainable approach by utilizing polylactic acid (PLA) as a biodegradable polymer, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a green solvent, and deep eutectic solvents (DES) as environmentally friendly additives. A full characterization was performed to assess the structural and functional properties of the fabricated membranes. The transition to eco-friendly materials led to physical modifications in the membrane structure while maintaining its chemical integrity. Filtration tests demonstrated that membranes composed of 20 wt% PLA, DMSO, and 1 wt% choline chloride: ethylene glycol (ChCl:EG) (1:2) exhibited significantly enhanced water flux (1138 L/m².h) compared to membranes prepared with conventional solvents (554 L/m².h). Additionally, the modified membranes achieved a high oil rejection rate of 96% and improved anti-fouling properties, with a flux recovery ratio (FRR) of 80%. These findings confirm that the novel combination enables the fabrication of an environmentally friendly membrane through a sustainable process.