Menachem Elimelech
Research ScientistCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Methods for evaluating transport parameters of low-salt-rejection reverse osmosis (LSRRO) membranes
del Cerro M, Shocron A, Fan H, Gilron J, Elimelech M. Methods for evaluating transport parameters of low-salt-rejection reverse osmosis (LSRRO) membranes. Desalination 2026, 620: 119588. DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2025.119588.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLow-salt-rejection reverse osmosisLow salt rejectionNanofiltration membranesReverse osmosisCrossflow filtration experimentsCommercial nanofiltration membranesRejection of solutesHigh salinity applicationsEffective process designTransport equationFiltration performanceIndustrial waste streamsSolute rejectionHigh-salinity brineOperating conditionsReflection coefficientWater permeationProcess designTransport parametersDetermination of transport coefficientsFiltration experimentsAccurate solutionsMembrane behaviorOsmosisWater transport modelA mechanistic framework for solvent transport in organic solvent nanofiltration membranes: Beyond empirical correlations
Fan H, Wang R, Jiao Z, Elimelech M. A mechanistic framework for solvent transport in organic solvent nanofiltration membranes: Beyond empirical correlations. Journal Of Membrane Science 2026, 737: 124601. DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2025.124601.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOrganic solvent nanofiltrationOrganic solvent nanofiltration membranesSolvent permeabilityPore structureSolvent transportOSN membranesMechanism of solvent transportEmpirical correlationsEngineered pore structuresPore flow mechanismAnalysis of viscous flowMembrane pore structureThermal separation processesMembrane performanceNanofiltration membranesSolute rejectionSolvent nanofiltrationViscous flowFlow mechanismFrictionMolecular separationSeparation processDarcy's lawPore dimensionsPore confinementNon-equilibrium molecular simulations reveal a pore-flow-dominated transport mechanism in pervaporation membranes
Wang R, He J, Elimelech M. Non-equilibrium molecular simulations reveal a pore-flow-dominated transport mechanism in pervaporation membranes. Desalination 2026, 618: 119481. DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2025.119481.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-equilibrium molecular dynamicsDesalination of high-salinity waterViscous flowCoordination number analysisDehydration of organic solventsPolyvinyl alcoholPressure-driven viscous flowMembrane-based separation processesPore flow modelGas-like diffusivityLiquid-vapor phase transitionSolvent moleculesPore size distributionWater–ethanol solvent mixturePV desalinationMolecular dynamicsPolymer membranesSolvent mixturesSolvent distributionOrganic solventsLiquid-vapor phase changeNon-equilibrium molecular simulationsMolecular simulationsPervaporation membranesSolvent transportRevisiting the apparent experimental basis of the solution–diffusion model for water transport in “dense” polymer membranes
Fan H, Wang R, Lin S, Elimelech M. Revisiting the apparent experimental basis of the solution–diffusion model for water transport in “dense” polymer membranes. Journal Of Membrane Science 2026, 738: 124869. DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2025.124869.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchReverse osmosisSolution-diffusionPolymer membranesDense polymer membranesSolution-diffusion modelFlux–pressure relationshipIon-exchange membranesContent gradientNanofiltration rangePolymer matrixMembrane compactionPore sizeCellulose acetate membraneSolvent transportPorous materialsRubber membraneExperimental validationWater transportAcetate membranesPore connectivityPolymerMolecular diffusionPoreStructural analysisTransport mechanism
2025
Precision-Engineered Crystalline Covalent Organic Framework Membranes with Staggered ABC Stacking for High-Performance Desalination
Yuan J, Mai Z, Parkinson M, Zhou Y, Hou J, Cao X, Sun S, Zhang Y, Zhu J, Elimelech M. Precision-Engineered Crystalline Covalent Organic Framework Membranes with Staggered ABC Stacking for High-Performance Desalination. Journal Of The American Chemical Society 2025, 147: 47477-47488. PMID: 41385393, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c16195.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCovalent organic frameworksCOF membranesCovalent organic framework filmsCovalent organic framework membranesPore apertureABC stacking modeHydrogen-bonded adductsSchiff base condensationOrganic framework membranesHigh-performance desalinationPressure-driven separation processesBase condensationInterfacial synthesisAliphatic linkerLong-term stabilityOrganic frameworksStacking modeReaction–diffusion behaviorsAqueous separationsFilm crystallinityWater permeanceNaCl rejectionFouling resistanceReaction retardationMembrane technologyAffinity-induced upcycling of palladium nanoclusters in COF membranes for catalytic water treatment
Cao S, Parkinson M, Zhu J, Zhai Z, Zhang Y, He T, Elimelech M. Affinity-induced upcycling of palladium nanoclusters in COF membranes for catalytic water treatment. Chem Catalysis 2025, 5: 101524. DOI: 10.1016/j.checat.2025.101524.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCovalent organic framework membranesCovalent organic frameworksConversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenolEley–Rideal mechanismEfficient water decontaminationUniform distributionPd nanocatalystsOrganic frameworksCatalytic membranePd nanoclustersCatalytic activityEley-RidealAcidic wastewaterUltrafine nanoclustersPalladium nanoclustersMolecular simulationsWater decontaminationNanoclustersOrganic pollutantsPalladiumWater treatmentSieveNanocatalystsCatalysisDoctor-blading-assisted interfacial polymerization for green and scalable polyamide membrane fabrication
Zhao G, Liu H, Lan C, Liang L, Dong L, Meng H, Elimelech M. Doctor-blading-assisted interfacial polymerization for green and scalable polyamide membrane fabrication. Nature Communications 2025, 16: 10481. PMID: 41290685, PMCID: PMC12647255, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65493-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchInterfacial polymerizationPolyamide membranesThin-film composite membranesThin-film compositeDoctor blade techniqueInterfacial reaction zoneProduction of next-generationWater permeanceMembrane fabricationComposite membranesFabrication processFabrication methodExcellent saltMembrane microstructureFabrication strategyHeat transferBlade techniqueInterfacial reactionReaction zoneIP processFabricationMembrane productionHigh viscosityMicrostructureLiquid/water interfaceEmbossing-Free Permeate Carrier for Ultrahigh Pressure Reverse Osmosis
Wu J, Xiao M, Wang X, Tang R, Soares K, Manio J, Chen Y, Elimelech M, Hoek E. Embossing-Free Permeate Carrier for Ultrahigh Pressure Reverse Osmosis. Environmental Science And Technology 2025, 59: 26261-26270. PMID: 41276959, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c10473.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCommercial RO membranesSalt rejectionRO membranesReverse osmosisLoss of salt rejectionStable water fluxBrine concentrationStainless steel meshZero Liquid DischargeMembrane compactionMesh layersSEM imagesLiquid dischargeWater permeabilityWater fluxOsmosisBackpressureEmbossingIrreversible lossCarriersPolysulfonePolyamideSEMPressureTechnologyDual-regulated covalent organic framework membranes with near-theoretical pore sizes for angstrom-scale ion separations
Hu X, Jiang T, Fan H, Guan Y, Chen J, Yu H, Elimelech M. Dual-regulated covalent organic framework membranes with near-theoretical pore sizes for angstrom-scale ion separations. Science Advances 2025, 11: eady3587. PMID: 41223271, PMCID: PMC12609051, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ady3587.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCovalent organic frameworksCovalent organic framework membranesMolecular simulationsFabricating covalent organic frameworksOrganic framework membranesPore sizeMolecular dynamics simulationsInterfacial polymerization strategyCOF membranesCation separationIon separationOrganic frameworksPolymerization strategyLiquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysisAqueous separationsDynamics simulationsMembrane fabricationMonomer diffusionTheoretical pore sizesWater purificationChromatography-mass spectrometry analysisMolecular size cutoffSelf-HealingSpectrometry analysisSeparationViability assessment of lithium recovery from unconventional saline water sources
Cooper N, Lee B, Patel S, Wang L, Westerhoff P, Elimelech M. Viability assessment of lithium recovery from unconventional saline water sources. Desalination 2025, 614: 119156. DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2025.119156.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSeawater reverse osmosis concentrateLithium recoveryLithium-ion batteriesIon exchange resinsReverse osmosis concentrateIntercalation electrodesLithium-ionOsmosis concentrateExchange resinSolar evaporation pondsLithium carbonateLow environmental impactLithium demandSeparation technologyLithium-rich brinesLithiumSaline water sourcesLow costTechnoeconomic analysisEnvironmental feasibilityEnvironmental impactIonsRecovery optionsIntercalationProduction costs