Institut Européen des Membranes

Methane is one of the most prominent greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. It is also a valuable source of energy and a raw material for the production of chemicals. Gas-to-liquid technologies for its conversion into methanol are particularly interesting, methanol being considered as a platform molecule for the chemical industry and a prospective fuel for low-emission transport. Methane oxidation into methanol is up to day carried out industrially under energy-consuming conditions, associated to significant CO2 emissions. Methanotrophic catalysis has arisen as a promising greener alternative since methanotrophs are naturally-occurring microorganisms (bacteria and archaea) able to uptake methane under mild conditions. Methanotrophic bacteria express the Methane MonoOxygenase (MMO) enzyme, able to selectively hydroxylate methane. However, their large-scale implementation is currently hindered by both biological and process constraints. This review summarizes recent developments in bioprocesses for methanol production from methane, including methanotroph-based ones. Whole-cell methanotrophs, cell-free (enzymatic) processes and MMO heterologous expression have been covered.

Hydrogen (H 2 ) has gained a lot of interest as an alternative energy vector, to reduce greenhouse gas emission issues caused by the fossil fuel industry. However, to make hydrogen a real energy carrier in a decarbonated economy, a secure and sustainable supply chain is needed. This approach requires notably safe storage and efficient strategies for recycling of raw materials. We discuss in this survey the state-of-the-art in the field of chemical hydrogen storage (CHS) materials, considering two possible vectors: ammonia borane and hydrosilanes. Regardless of the vector, to achieve real use, it is necessary to understand both the performance of the system and its life cycle, which relates to catalysts structure, and the activation of chemical bonds with efficient and complete catalytic cycles. We give herein an overview of hydrolysis and/or alcoholysis from metals, using coordination complexes, molecular supported catalysts or other materials, including nanocatalysts, with a focus on mechanistic information and understanding. Notably, the studies related to these two vectors can be considered somewhat complementary. Thus, the set of bibliographic report on ammonia borane is very documented in efficient catalytic systems, while its recycling remains at a very early stage. In comparison, hydrosilanes have been much less addressed specifically as a vector for hydrogen, while their reactivity at the molecular scale benefits from a relevant understanding from coordination chemistry studies. In addition, both hydrosilane polymerization and solvolysis reaction enables the release of H 2 , and produces by-products of which added value is already established. This opening the way to economical strategies where recycling can be optional. Nevertheless, the reversibility of hydrosilanes chemistry in H 2 uptake remains attractive and is another option to develop. • Ammonia borane synthesis and chemical properties. • Boranes regeneration after solvolysis – cumulative table for mechanochemistry approaches. • Catalytic hydrolysis and alcoholysis of hydrosilanes. • Catalytic dehydrogenative oligomerization of hydrosilanes. • Regeneration and reversibility of hydrosilane solvolysis products.

Freshwater scarcity poses a critical challenge to human survival, necessitating innovative desalination solutions to meet the growing global demand for potable water. Among these, membrane distillation (MD) has emerged as a promising technology due to its high salt rejection efficiency, lower energy consumption compared to conventional thermal desalination methods such as multi-stage flash (MSF) and multi-effect distillation (MED), and its adaptability to diverse water sources, including seawater, brackish water, and wastewater. Within MD, direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) has gained significant attention for its simplicity, high desalination flux, and potential cost-effectiveness. Unlike other MD variants, DCMD operates without requiring expensive external condensers, making it economically attractive for large-scale deployment. However, despite these advantages, DCMD faces challenges such as membrane fouling, thermal polarization, and limited long-term stability, all of which can degrade performance and increase operational costs. This review provides a comprehensive overview of DCMD technology, focusing on membrane module design, material selection, and fabrication techniques. It also addresses key operational challenges and explores innovative strategies to enhance system efficiency. Additionally, it presents an up-to-date analysis of the economic and environmental implications of DCMD and its feasibility for large-scale implementation. By offering a thorough understanding of this technology, the review aims to facilitate its optimization and unlock its full potential as a sustainable solution to global freshwater scarcity.

The cover artwork depicts the electrochemical capture of concerted ion, electron, and atom motions during the galvanic replacement reaction (GRR) of silver by gold in silver nanoparticles. A mathematical model based on autocatalytic networks and cascade mechanisms explains the GRR output signal, which is the time- and concentration-dependent open-circuit potential. The model provides access to the kinetic parameters that describe the dynamics of this three-by-one galvanic exchange event. More information can be found in the Research Article by Yaovi Holade and Bonito Aristide Karamoko (DOI: 10.1002/celc.202500338).

This study explores chitosan (CS)-based materials for water purification, assessing their disinfection and contaminant degradation capabilities. A reproducible protocol was developed to fabricate homogeneous, stable CS films, validated through permeability testing and characterized using thermal (TGA), mechanical (tensile strength, elongation), and physico-chemical (FTIR-ATR, water contact angle, SEM-EDX) analyses. A catalyst was employed to complex iron ions and crosslink CS chains via acrylamide functions, stabilizing the CS structure and reducing washout in water. Disinfection tests showed that pure CS exhibited strong antimicrobial activity under varying contamination levels, attributed to direct contact and slight dissolution. Functionalized CS materials acted as catalytic surfaces, requiring hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). This ROS-mediated process effectively disinfected high bacteria loads and degraded phenol. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) confirmed hydroxyl radicals as the primary active species when H2O2 was present. Under lower contamination levels, residual CS within the functionalized material contributed to direct antimicrobial effects, demonstrating a synergistic action between CS and ROS. These findings highlight CS as a reliable disinfectant and functionalized CS as a versatile material for ROS-driven antimicrobial action and contaminant degradation. The results suggest potential for scalable, sustainable water treatment applications. Future work will focus on optimizing the catalyst structure to enhance ROS production and improve contaminant removal efficiency.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted significant attention in recent years in diverse fields owing to their broad mechanisms of action. In particular, the wound healing process has become one of the main fields where the therapeutic potential of AgNPs is highlighted. AgNPs can be used as monotherapy or incorporated into composite structures in various formulations such as nanogels, hydrogels, powders, ointments, and sprays, for the treatment of a wide range of wound types including burns, excisional and incisional wounds, bone defects, surgical wounds, and diabetic ulcers. This widespread use is attributed to the strong antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cell proliferation-promoting biological properties of AgNPs. Moreover, AgNPs exhibit synergistic effects when combined with conventional antibiotics, enhancing their efficiency against resistant bacterial strains or even restoring the lost antibacterial activity. These biological properties enable AgNPs to reduce infection risk while simultaneously promoting high-quality healing by accelerating tissue regeneration. The therapeutic effectiveness of AgNPs is influenced by their physicochemical properties, including particle size, shape, and surface chemistry. In particular, synthesis methods play a significant role in determining both the biological activity and the safety profile of AgNPs. Among various methods, green synthesis approaches stand out for enabling the production of environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and highly biocompatible AgNPs. In this review, the mechanisms of action of AgNPs in wound healing are examined in detail, and recent scientific developments in this field are evaluated based on current in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies.

In recent years, the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in various fields has been investigated due to their highly potent properties. One of these areas is the adaptation of AgNPs to food packaging/preservation technologies. The primary reasons for the use of AgNPs in food preservation studies are their high levels of antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal activities. In particular, the slow and controlled release of silver provides a sustained protective effect throughout the contact period of AgNP-integrated packaging with food and reduces microbial load by preventing biofilm formation. Furthermore, high thermal stability of AgNPs provides high protection to foods under various conditions. Their high surface-area-to-volume ratio, making them effective even at low concentrations, further supports AgNPs as a promising alternative in food preservation technologies. Moreover, their ease of surface modification facilitates the integration of these nanoparticles (NPs) into polymer matrices, biodegradable films, and coatings. Additionally, some AgNP-based films are also used in smart packaging applications, providing a color change indicator of degradation. Their broad pH tolerance enhances their applicability to a variety of food types, from dairy to meat products. For all these reasons, AgNPs are considered as one of the essential components of innovative food packaging to slow down food spoilage, prevent microbial contamination, and provide safer, longer-lasting products to the consumer, and studies on them are ongoing.

This study investigated the impact of pyrimethanil, a fungicide, on the aggregation of amyloid-β 42 (aβ42) peptides in vitro. The findings demonstrated that pyrimethanil accelerated aβ42 aggregation kinetics, as evidenced by thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assays in both tube and microplate experiments. A combination of single molecule techniques and molecular dynamics simulations is used to elucidate the complex effects of pyrimethanil on aβ42 aggregation mechanism. Nanopore experiments indicated that pyrimethanil promoted the formation of small oligomers (6-13.5 nm) during the lag phase, which were not detected under control conditions. Confocal fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that pyrimethanil induced the formation of larger β-sheet structured aggregates. In the presence of preformed seeds, pyrimethanil exhibited a dual role by fragmenting existing fibrils into smaller species and enhancing aggregation, likely through combined effects with the newly formed smaller seeds. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that pyrimethanil has a higher affinity for fibrils than monomers and weakens monomer-fibril interactions. Overall, this study elucidates the complex effects of pyrimethanil on aβ42 aggregation, involving promotion of primary nucleation, fibril fragmentation, and modulation of monomer-fibril interactions. These findings provide important mechanistic insights into how environmental factors like pesticides may influence amyloid aggregation processes relevant to Alzheimer's disease.

Ceramic membrane technology plays an important role in water and wastewater treatment. Strategic sourcing of various natural mineral resources has contributed to developing low-cost ceramic membranes. The combination with calcination of inorganic and organic wastes from domestic and agricultural activities results in fully sustainable ceramic membrane materials. In this work, ceramic membranes were developed using 96% clay, 2% almond shells and 2% lime. Sintering at 900, 950, and 1000 °C enabled the production of membranes (MK-900, MK-950, and MK-1000) in a clean, simple, and cost-effective manner. The average pore diameter and porosity decreased slightly from 44 to 42 nm and from about 30% to 26% with increasing sintering temperature, while the flexural strength increased from 25 to 40 MPa. The pure water permeability was 68 and 59 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1 for MK-900 and MK-950, respectively. Effective color (as Indigo blue) removal of 78% and 92% was observed for MK-900 and MK-950, respectively. More than 90% of the initial permeability was recovered after three cycles of dye filtration using water backwashing at each stage, indicating good fouling resistance of the prepared membranes.