Scientists develop environmentally friendly membranes for dye removal from water

Did you know that some of the dyes used in your clothes may be harmful to the environment — and often end up in water systems untreated?

Synthetic dyes used in the textile, cosmetics, and food industries are among the most critical environmental pollutants. Today, approximately 80% of dye-contaminated wastewater worldwide is discharged without treatment. These compounds are toxic, persistent in the environment, and pose risks to both human health and biodiversity.

But there is good news. A recent study conducted by researchers from Uppsala University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry introduces a sustainable solution — cellulose membranes enriched with lignin. These membranes effectively remove dye molecules from water, maintain their mechanical stability in wet conditions, and perform efficiently both in laboratory settings and in real water samples, including rivers and groundwater.

This technology is suitable for wastewater treatment across multiple industries, such as textile manufacturing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food production. The membranes can be easily integrated into existing water purification systems and show strong potential for future development of biodegradable filters.

What makes this solution stand out is its combination of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability:

  • The membranes are made from unbleached kraft pulp — an inexpensive and widely available raw material;
  • The production process is simple — no chemical modification or solvents are needed;
  • The technology is scalable for industrial use while significantly reducing environmental impact.

This research was conducted within the framework of the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE). As part of this international collaboration, our distinguished researcher Dr. habil. chem. Galina Dobele contributes to developing innovative approaches to smarter and more sustainable resource use.

The full research article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2025.106275.