Menachem Elimelech
Research ScientistCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Novel low-salt-rejection reverse osmosis configuration for continuous brine concentration: Pilot-scale demonstration
del Cerro M, Gidey-Berhe G, Cath T, Elimelech M, Gilron J. Novel low-salt-rejection reverse osmosis configuration for continuous brine concentration: Pilot-scale demonstration. Desalination 2026, 631: 120186. DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2026.120186.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLow-salt-rejection reverse osmosisSpiral wound elementsWater recoveryLow salt rejectionConcentrate flow rateSystem performance metricsPressure exchangerPilot-scale demonstrationRO brineSeawater RORO systemRO moduleReverse osmosisRO stagePressure intensifierBrine recyclingRecycle streamsOperational limitsProcess configurationsConcentration factorEnergy penaltyFlow rateBrine concentrationPilot systemConcentration potentialsA stage-based framework for closed-loop recycling of polymeric composite membranes
Liang H, Cao J, Zhu Z, Ma L, Feng Z, Yang Y, Elimelech M, Lu X. A stage-based framework for closed-loop recycling of polymeric composite membranes. Science Advances 2026, 12: eaed5675. PMID: 42308295, PMCID: PMC13274607, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aed5675.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPolymeric composite membranesComposite membranesClosed-loop recyclingCatalytic depolymerizationEnd-of-life membranesMechanical robustnessMembrane manufacturersModern separation technologySeparation performanceMultilayer structureSeparation technologyMaterials scienceSolvent extractionSequential solvent extractionMechanical processesProcess engineeringProcess yieldTechnoeconomic analysisWaste streamsRecycling strategiesProcessing systemSustainable end-of-lifeLife cycle assessmentDepolymerizationSustainable managementThe vulnerability of Middle East desalination
Elimelech M. The vulnerability of Middle East desalination. Science 2026, 392: 587-587. PMID: 42096579, DOI: 10.1126/science.aeh1136.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSolar-thermal membrane distillation: Opportunities and challenges
Rolf J, Floyd J, Chomiak T, He Z, Xin R, Fuentes N, Zuo K, Wang J, Alrehaili O, Alghanayem R, El-Fadl M, El-Naggar M, Walker W, Jassby D, Perreault F, Elimelech M, Ali M, Said I, Li Q. Solar-thermal membrane distillation: Opportunities and challenges. Desalination 2026, 626: 119960. DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2026.119960.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsMembrane distillationMD systemThermally driven separation processThermal desalination technologiesSolar energyLow-grade heatThermal energyPilot-scale studyMembrane wettingMD processDesalination technologiesEnergy-intensive treatmentsMD technologyStand-alone systemHydrophobic membraneLab-scaleVapor passageHigh energy consumptionWater purification methodsSeparation processUnconventional water sourcesCommercial limitationsNiche applicationsScale-up technologyMembrane surfaceScalable glass composite membranes for highly selective lithium enrichment
Wang Y, Wu J, Li Z, Li R, Cheng S, He J, Elimelech M, Sun Y. Scalable glass composite membranes for highly selective lithium enrichment. Nature Water 2026, 4: 643-655. DOI: 10.1038/s44221-026-00633-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMelt quenchingGlass composite membranesSelective ion separationZeolitic imidazolate frameworkLithium extraction technologyMolecular dynamics simulationsSalt-lake brinesZIF-62Imidazolate frameworksIon separationLithium recoveryZIF-8Composite membranesK+/Li+Ion discriminationLithiumDynamics simulationsFeed ratioPotassium ionsEnergy storageIon transportIonsLithium enrichmentBinary mixturesGlass compositionA universal metric for classifying gas transport regimes in nanoconfined media
Qian J, Wang R, Elimelech M. A universal metric for classifying gas transport regimes in nanoconfined media. The Journal Of Chemical Physics 2026, 164: 144904. PMID: 41949103, DOI: 10.1063/5.0323374.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTransport regimeNanoconfined mediaGas transport regimeMolecular dynamics simulationsMolecular mass dependenceMass dependenceDiffusion coefficient scalesComplex soft matterGas separationSoft matterNanoconfined systemsSimple fluidsTransport mechanismGeneral theoryPore confinementIntrinsic dependenceDynamics simulationsScaling exponentsGas mediumHopping diffusionGas transport mechanismsCoefficient scalesRigid poresMolecular momentumGas transportRole of frictional forces in salt and water transport through polyamide reverse osmosis membranes
Pataroque K, Mahajan S, Mejia J, del Cerro M, Wu J, Fan H, Li Y, Hoek E, Elimelech M. Role of frictional forces in salt and water transport through polyamide reverse osmosis membranes. Journal Of Membrane Science 2026, 744: 125202. DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2026.125202.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThin-film composite membranesFriction forcePore sizeSalt permeanceComposite membranesCommercial thin-film composite membranesPolyamide reverse osmosis membranesMolecular dynamicsReverse osmosis membranesMembrane pore sizeDead-end cellSalt partitioningQuartz crystal microbalanceWater permeanceOsmosis membranesSelf-diffusion coefficientIon membraneWater-membrane interactionsMembrane technologyFrictional interactionIon mobilityWater self-diffusion coefficientMD simulationsCrystal microbalancePermeanceInorganic Scaling in Electrodialysis: Mechanistic Insights and Impact on Energy Efficiency and Ion Selectivity
Pan W, Li K, Zhang J, Duan Y, Wang R, Dykstra J, Elimelech M. Inorganic Scaling in Electrodialysis: Mechanistic Insights and Impact on Energy Efficiency and Ion Selectivity. Environmental Science And Technology 2026, 60: 10298-10308. PMID: 41866715, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c16084.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIon-exchange membranesInorganic scalingIon selectivityCurrent densityEnergy consumptionOperating conditionsDiluate solutionInput energyElectrodialysisSeparation technologySalt removalFlow rateMechanistic insightED systemEnergy efficiencyIonsScale effectsExperimental dataCompositional evolutionSolid-phase characterizationEnergyED performanceGypsum formationDiluateSelectionUltrathin crown ether-based polyamide membrane for ion-ion separations
Villalobos L, Zhang J, Lee J, Hall A, DuChanois R, Violet C, Cumings J, Zhong M, Elimelech M. Ultrathin crown ether-based polyamide membrane for ion-ion separations. Nature Communications 2026, 17: 4263. PMID: 41862472, PMCID: PMC13168650, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-70431-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIon-ion separationInterfacial polymerizationBiological ion channelsIon separationStable complexesIon-ionPolymeric membranesIonic speciesUltrathin membranesSpecific ionsCommercial membranesLiquid separationPolyamide membranesCrosslinking degreeIonsMixed-saltSeparationSorption experimentsUltrathinMacrocycleLithiumCationsPolymerizationDivalent cationsPotassiumPrecise regulation of missing linkers in MOF pervaporation membranes for desalination of hypersaline waters
Dong Y, De Finnda C, Fu M, Zheng X, Lyu Q, Zhao M, Wang H, Yu H, Elimelech M. Precise regulation of missing linkers in MOF pervaporation membranes for desalination of hypersaline waters. Nature Communications 2026, 17: 3206. PMID: 41748612, PMCID: PMC13057397, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69745-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMetal-organic frameworksMOF-801Missing-linkSelection of metal-organic frameworksHost-guest interaction energyDesalination of hypersaline waterWater purification applicationsStable desalination performancePore cagesHigh water fluxPore windowsNanochannel membranePolycrystalline membranesEnergy barrierInteraction energyFormic acidPurification applicationsDesalination performanceSalt rejectionPervaporation membranesFast transportNucleation sitesWater fluxApplication potentialWater treatment