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Protein nanofibrils for next generation sustainable water purification

Author

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  • Mohammad Peydayesh

    (ETH Zurich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology)

  • Raffaele Mezzenga

    (ETH Zurich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology
    ETH Zurich, Department of Materials)

Abstract

Water scarcity is rapidly spreading across the planet, threatening the population across the five continents and calling for global sustainable solutions. Water reclamation is the most ecological approach for supplying clean drinking water. However, current water purification technologies are seldom sustainable, due to high-energy consumption and negative environmental footprint. Here, we review the cutting-edge technologies based on protein nanofibrils as water purification agents and we highlight the benefits of this green, efficient and affordable solution to alleviate the global water crisis. We discuss the different protein nanofibrils agents available and analyze them in terms of performance, range of applicability and sustainability. We underline the unique opportunity of designing protein nanofibrils for efficient water purification starting from food waste, as well as cattle, agricultural or dairy industry byproducts, allowing simultaneous environmental, economic and social benefits and we present a case analysis, including a detailed life cycle assessment, to establish their sustainable footprint against other common natural-based adsorbents, anticipating a bright future for this water purification approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Peydayesh & Raffaele Mezzenga, 2021. "Protein nanofibrils for next generation sustainable water purification," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23388-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23388-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Renata Toczyłowska-Mamińska & Mariusz Ł. Mamiński, 2022. "Wastewater as a Renewable Energy Source—Utilisation of Microbial Fuel Cell Technology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Mohammad Peydayesh & Sabrina Kistler & Jiangtao Zhou & Viviane Lutz-Bueno & Francesca Damiani Victorelli & Andréia Bagliotti Meneguin & Larissa Spósito & Tais Maria Bauab & Marlus Chorilli & Raffaele , 2023. "Amyloid-polysaccharide interfacial coacervates as therapeutic materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Natanael Karjanto, 2022. "Seeking Genuine Vocations through Sustainability in Chemical Engineering," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-23, June.

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