Development of Eco-Friendly Silk Nanofibril-Based Composite Membranes for Water Filtration Applications

Abstract This research presents the development of a sustainable membrane system designed for effective water purification, utilizing silk nanofibrils (SNFs) combined with palygorskite (PGS). Genipin, a non-toxic natural crosslinking agent, was employed to induce a structural shift in SNF chains from flexible random coils to a stable β-sheet configuration. This modification notably improved the mechanical integrity of the membranes, while reducing susceptibility to swelling and degradation. By adjusting the proportion of SNFs and PGS, the resulting composite membranes achieved customizable performance in terms of selectivity and permeability. These hybrid membranes demonstrated strong dye separation abilities and exceptional water permeability, highlighting their viability in wastewater treatment applications. The nanoscale pore structure, together with the biodegradable and protein-based architecture of silk, makes these membranes a sustainable replacement for traditional synthetic filtration materials. Future studies may focus on incorporating active functional groups or layering substrates to further refine their separation profiles for targeted uses.