Concurrent Removal of Selenium and Arsenic from Water Using Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS)–Polyamide Thin-Film Nanocomposite Nanofiltration Membranes

Co/SH-based MOFs incorporated nanofiltration membranes for efficient selenium uptake in water purification

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) with high adsorption capacity have shown potential in removing pollutants from water, particularly the toxic selenium (Se). However, MOFs face two challenges in the application of Se removal, that is low removal efficiency and unfavorable powder properties for recovery. In this study, a Co-MOF-74-SH with dual active adsorption sites was synthesized and subsequently immobilized into membrane to fabricate a multi-functional nanofiltration (NF) membrane for efficient Se removal and salt-salt separation. The strong cooperative interaction between the dual active Co/S sites and Se resulted in an impressive Se removal efficiency of 94.1 % for Co-MOF-74-SH. The adsorption energy and isosurface of electron density from DFT simulations showed the strong interaction between SeO32- and S sites in Co-MOF-74-SH. NF membrane with Co-MOF-74-SH incorporation was fabricated. This membrane showed Se removal of ∼99.6 %, surpassing original membrane of ∼74.4 %, which was attributed to synergetic mechanism of adsorption and separation. Simultaneously, the membrane exhibited excellent separation performance, with divalent/monovalent salt selectivity up to more than 80 as well as high water permeance of 15.80 L m-2 h-1 bar-1. This work not only broadens efficient adsorbents for Se removal, but also paves the way for membrane material for water purification and wastewater resource utilization.

Regulating the interlayer SO42--induced rebound of SeO42- in green rust coupled with iron nanoparticles for groundwater remediation

Green rust (GR) is an interlayer anion-containing Fe(II)/Fe(III) mineral material that is versatile in removing a series of ionic contaminants in water. Taking SeO42- (Se(VI)) as the target contaminant, this study identified that the removal processes of Se(VI) by GR could be divided into three stages: initial rapid interlayer exchange, followed by a rebound, and finally slow removal. In addition, as the percentage of SO42- in GR interlayer increased, the Se(VI) removal by GR gradually decreased. To mediate the SO42--induced rebound of Se(VI), the coupling of GR with iron nanoparticles (nFe0@GR) was proposed in this study and it was found that the removal efficiency of Se(VI) by nFe0@GR was 3.53 folds greater than that of GR. This study further revealed that the enhanced reactivity of nFe0@GR with Se(VI) could be attributed to the re-equilibration of SO42- driven by the formed GR in situ. Since it had a weaker electrostatic repulsion with interlayer SeO42- than pristine GR, the Se(VI) could be quickly removed by nFe0@GR without the rebound. Moreover, the nFe0@GR was demonstrated to be effective in immobilizing Se(VI) from simulated groundwater and has a great potential to reduce the risk of Se(VI) re-release into the environment.

A single functionalized graphene nanocomposite in cross flow module for removal of multiple toxic anionic contaminants from drinking water

Polyether sulfone (PES)-based thin-film nanofiltration (TFN) membranes embedded with ferric hydroxide (Fe^III(OH)_x) functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles were fabricated through interfacial polymerization for a generalized application in removal of a plethora of anionic and toxic water contaminants. Following the most relevant characterization, the newly synthesized membranes were fitted in a novel flat sheet cross-flow module, for experimental investigation on purification of live contaminated groundwater collected from different affected areas. The separation performances of the membranes in the flat sheet cross-flow module demonstrated that GOF membranes had higher selectivity for monovalent and divalent salt rejections than pristine GO membranes. Furthermore, both membranes were tested for simultaneously removing widely occurring hazardous ions of heavy metals and metalloids in groundwater, such as arsenic, selenium, chromium, and fluoride. Compared to the pristine GO and the reported membranes in the literature, the GOF membrane exhibited remarkable performance in terms of rejection efficiency (Cr (VI): 97.2%, Se (IV): 96.6%, As(V): 96.3%, F^- 88.4%) and sustained flux of 184 LMH (Lm^-2 h^-1) at an optimum transmembrane pressure of 16 bar. The investigated membrane module equipped with the GOF membrane proved to be a low-cost system with higher anionic rejection and sustained high flux at a comprehensive pH range, as evident over long hours of study vis-à-vis reported systems.

Construction and Chlorine Resistance of Thiophene-Poly(ethyleneimine)-Based Dual-Functional Nanofiltration Membranes

The demand to improve the chlorine resistance of polyamide (PA) membranes is escalated with greater amounts of chlorine-containing disinfectant being used in global water treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this work, we designed thiophene-functionalized poly(ethyleneimine) (TPEI) materials first and grafted them onto a conventional PA membrane to develop novel nanofiltration membranes (PEI-M, TPEI-1-M, TPEI-2-M). These membranes have dual-functionalized selective surfaces covered by hydrophilic amino groups and electron-rich thiophene moieties, which endow these membranes with superior chlorine resistance and improved separation performance. The modified membranes increase the rejection of MgCl2 from 86.5% of the nascent PA membrane (PA-M) to higher than 93.0% without sacrificing the membrane water permeability. More stable separation performance is achieved with all of the as-prepared membranes than PA-M after exposure to a 2000 ppm sodium hypochlorite solution. TPEI-2-M outperforms other membranes after being treated in a chlorination intensity of 16,000 ppm·h with the smallest flux loss and the highest MgCl2 rejection. This is mainly ascribed to the highest amount of amino and thiophene moieties on the TPEI-2-M surface. This study provides an effective protocol for developing novel PA-based nanofiltration membranes while demonstrating its superiority over current technologies with exceptional separation performance and antichlorine ability.

A membrane-based green and low-cost system for ensuring safe drinking water in a selenium-affected region

Towards an efficient, low-cost solution to the problem of contamination of groundwater by selenium leached out from earth's mineral crust, a new system is developed using a novel graphene-based nanocomposite membrane. The system not only purified selenium-contaminated groundwater with high degree but also ensured safe disposal of the rejected selenium through algorithmic chemical stabilization in a mineral matrix. All experiments were conducted with live contaminated water from selenium affected area rather than using synthetic solution in a semi-pilot unit involving a largely fouling-free flat sheet cross-flow membrane module. Pure water flux of up to 190 Lm^-2h^-1(LMH) with 96-97% selenium rejection at an optimum operating pressure of only 14 bar could be achieved. Rejected selenium was stabilized in mineral matrix through chemical coagulation-precipitation using suitable coagulants following prior optimization of the critical operating parameters by Model-based calibration toolbox (MATLAB R2020a). A high degree of stabilization efficiency (99.8%) could be achieved as reflected in an error-index of only 1.13%. For selenium-affected region, the membrane-integrated hybrid treatment system proved to be a potential candidate technology offering safe drinking water at an approximate cost of only 1.77 $/m³ which was found to be affordable to the consumers in subsequent willingness to pay survey.

Effective adsorption of cadmium and lead using SO3H-functionalized Zr-MOFs in aqueous medium

Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) from industrial wastewater can bioaccumulate in the living organisms of water bodies, posing serious threats to human health. Therefore, efficient remediation of heavy metal ions of Cd (II) and Pb (II) in aqueous media is necessary for public health and environmental sustainability. In the present study, water stable Zirconium (Zr) based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with SO3H functionalization were synthesized by solvothermal method and used first time for the adsorption of Cd (II) and Pb (II). Synthesis of UiO-66-SO3H, nano-sized (<100 nm) MOFs, was confirmed by FTIR, XRD, FESEM and BET. Effects of contact time, pH and temperature were investigated for adsorption of Cd (II) and Pb (II) onto SO3H-functionalized Zr-MOFs. The UiO-66-SO3H displayed notable rejections of 97% and 88% towards Cd (II) and Pb (II), respectively, after 160 min at 25 °C and pH (6) with an initial concentration of 1000 mg/L. Adsorption capacities of Cd (II) and Pb (II) were achieved as 194.9154 (mg/g) and 176.6879 (mg/g), respectively, at an initial concentration of 1000 mg/L. The Pseudo second-order kinetic model fitted well with linear regression (R2) of value 1. The mechanism was confirmed mainly as a chemisorption and coordination interaction between sulfone group (-SO3H) and metal ions Cd (IIa) and Pb (II). These results may support effective adsorption and can be studied further to enrich and recycle other heavy metals from wastewater.

Novel triazine-based cationic covalent organic polymers for highly efficient and selective removal of selenate from contaminated water

Selenium (Se) removal from contaminated water has become a major environmental problem in recent years. Designing efficient and selective materials for selenium adsorption is urgent and still represents a great challenge. Herein, two novel cationic covalent triazine frameworks (CTFS-Cl and CTFL-Cl) are developed for the first time and employed as a new class of Se adsorbents. The results from systematic adsorption experiments indicate that these materials can adsorb SeO₄^2- in a wide range of pH values (2-11) with fast kinetics (5 min), outstanding adsorption capacity, and excellent selectivity over other competing anions. The maximum adsorption capacity achieved (149.3 mg/g by CTFS-Cl) constitutes one of the highest values among the organic polymeric materials. More importantly, after a single step adsorption, these materials can reduce the Se concentrations to lower than 10 μg/L, the lowest drinking water standard in the world. The adsorption mechanism was probed by XPS technique, EDS analysis, adsorption experiments, and DFT calculations, which reveals that anion exchange between Cl^- and SeO₄^2- is the main driving force for Se adsorption. Additionally, CTFS-Cl and CTFL-Cl perform well toward real contaminated river water sample with the residual Se being less than 8.49 μg/L. This work demonstrates the excellent performance of CTFs-based materials with great application prospect for Se removal in contaminated water treatment.

Selenium species removal by nanofiltration: Determination of retention mechanisms

Selenium (Se) is a dissolved oxyanion drinking water contaminant requiring appropriate removal technologies. The removal of selenite (Se^IV) and selenite (Se^VI) with nanofiltration (NF) was investigated with an emphasis on the role of Se speciation and membrane charge screening on the retention mechanisms. The pH (2 to 12) showed strong pH dependence of Se retention, which was due to the speciation. No significant impact of salinity was observed by increasing NaCl concentration from 0.58 to 20 g/L. Application of the Donnan steric pore partitioning model with dielectric exclusion (DSPM-DE) showed that Donnan exclusion was the dominant retention mechanism for the oxyanions Se species. Nine different organic matter (OM) types were investigated at 10 mgC/L to determine if OM affects Se retention. Only OM characterised by negatively charged fractions, such as humic acid (HA), enhanced Se retention with NF270 of up to 20% for Se^IV and 10% for Se^VI. This was explained by enhanced Donnan exclusion. NF270 was effective in removing Se from real water (Gahard groundwater, Ille et Vilaine, France). The EU guideline (20 μg/L) of Se in drinking water was achieved with comparable performance to OM-free experiments using synthetic waters.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Selenium in Drinking Water during the 1990-2021 Period: Treatment Options for Selenium Removal

A bibliometric analysis based on the Scopus database was carried out to summarize the global research related to selenium in drinking water from 1990 to 2021 and identify the quantitative characteristics of the research in this period. The results from the analysis revealed that the number of accumulated publications followed a quadratic growth, which confirmed the relevance this research topic is gaining during the last years. High research efforts have been invested to define safe selenium content in drinking water, since the insufficient or excessive intake of selenium and the corresponding effects on human health are only separated by a narrow margin. Some important research features of the four main technologies most frequently used to remove selenium from drinking water (coagulation, flocculation and precipitation followed by filtration; adsorption and ion exchange; membrane-based processes and biological treatments) were compiled in this work. Although the search of technological options to remove selenium from drinking water is less intensive than the search of solutions to reduce and eliminate the presence of other pollutants, adsorption was the alternative that has received the most attention according to the research trends during the studied period, followed by membrane technologies, while biological methods require further research efforts to promote their implementation.

Treatment technologies for selenium contaminated water: A critical review

Selenium is an indispensable trace element for humans and other organisms; however, excessive selenium in water can jeopardize the aquatic environment. Investigations on the biogeochemical cycle of selenium have shown that anthropogenic activities such as mining, refinery, and coal combustion mainly contribute to aquatic selenium pollution, imposing tremendous risks on ecosystems and human beings. Various technologies thus have been developed recently to treat selenium contaminated water to reduce its environmental impacts. This work provides a critical review on the applications, characteristics, and latest developments of current treatment technologies for selenium polluted water. It first outlines the present status of the characteristics, sources, and toxicity of selenium in water. Selenium treatment technologies are then classified into three categories: 1) physicochemical separation including membrane filtration, adsorption, coagulation/precipitation, 2) redox decontamination including chemical reduction and catalysis, and 3) biological transformation including microbial treatment and constructed wetland. Details of these methods including their overall efficiencies, applicability, advantages and drawbacks, and latest developments are systematically analyzed and compared. Although all these methods are promising in treating selenium in water, further studies are still needed to develop sustainable strategies based on existing and new technologies. Perspectives on future research directions are laid out at the end.

Nanocomposites of Polyhydroxyurethane with POSS Microdomains: Synthesis via Non-Isocyanate Approach, Morphologies and Reprocessing Properties

In this contribution, we reported the synthesis of a novel trifunctional POSS cyclic carbonate [POSS-3(5CC)]. With a difunctional five-member cyclic carbonate and a trifunctional polyetheramine as the precursor, the nanocomposites of polyhydroxyurethane (PHU) with POSS were synthesized. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the nanocomposites of PHUs with POSS were microphase-separated; the spherical POSS microdomains via POSS-POSS interactions were generated with the size of 20~40 nm in diameter. After the introduction of POSS microdomains, the nanocomposites displayed improved thermal and mechanical properties. More importantly, the nanocomposites still displayed the reprocessing properties of vitrimers.

Selenium migration mechanism in wet FGD slurry: Experimental and DFT analysis

Selenium (Se) is one of the hazardous trace elements emitted from coal-fired power plants. The Se migration behavior in wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) slurry is still unclear, and the species of Se in FGD gypsum remains controversial. In this research, the bubbling experiments using simulated slurry with/without gypsum crystallization process were conducted. The experimental results indicated that pure gypsum has poor capability to capture Se components, and only selenite could be trapped in gypsum during its crystal growth stage. Furthermore, the DFT calculation was conducted to provide the microscopic information of Se adsorption and substitution characteristics during gypsum crystallization process. The research findings of this study could help understand the mechanism of Se migration process in FGD slurry, and facilitate the development of effective Se emission control technologies in the future.

An economical strategy towards the managing of selenium pollution from contaminated water: A current state-of-the-art review

During the last few decades, contamination of selenium (Se) in groundwater has turned out to be a major environmental concern to provide safe drinking water. The content of selenium in such contaminated water might range from 400 to 700 μg/L, where bringing it down to a safe level of 40 μg/L for municipal water supply employing appropriate methodologies is a major challenge for the global researcher communities. The current review focuses mostly on the governing selenium remediation technologies such as coagulation-flocculation, electrocoagulation, bioremediation, membrane-based approaches, adsorption, electro-kinetics, chemical precipitation, and reduction methods. This study emphasizes on the development of a variety of low-cost adsorbents and metal oxides for the selenium decontamination from groundwater as a cutting-edge technology development along with their applicability, and environmental concerns. Moreover, after the removal, the recovery methodologies using appropriate materials are analyzed which is the need of the hour for the reutilization of selenium in different processing industries for the generation of high valued products. From the literature survey, it has been found that hematite modified magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) efficiently adsorb Se (IV) (25.0 mg/g) from contaminated groundwater. MNP@hematite reduced Se (IV) concentration from 100 g/L to 10 g/L in 10 min at pH 4-9 using a dosage of 1 g/L. In 15 min, the magnetic adsorbent can be recycled and regenerated using a 10 mM NaOH solution. The adsorption and desorption efficiencies were over 97% and 82% for five consecutive cycles, respectively. To encourage the notion towards scale-up, a techno-economic evaluation with possible environmentally sensitive policy analysis has been introduced in this article to introspect the aspects of sustainability. This type of assessment is anticipated to be extremely encouraging to convey crucial recommendations to the scientific communities in order to produce high efficiency selenium elimination and further recovery from contaminated groundwater.

The occurrence, transformation and control of selenium in coal-fired power plants: Status quo and development

As a trace element, selenium can cause serious harm to organisms when the concentration is too high. Coal-fired power plants are the main source of man-made selenium emissions. How to control the selenium pollution of coal-fired power plants to realize the renewable selenium and the sustainability of coal has not attracted enough attention from the whole world. This paper outlines the conversion and occurrence of selenium in coal-fired power plants. A small part of the selenium produced by combustion can be removed by selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and electrostatic precipitator (ESP) after the gas phase undergoes physical condensation and chemical adsorption to combine with the particulate matter in the flue gas.Because the chemical precipitation method has poor selenium removal effect, the remaining part enters the flue gas desulfurization absorption tower and can be enriched in the desulfurization slurry. The occurrence situation and conversion pathway of selenium in desulfurization slurry are introduced subsequently, the research progress of selenium removal from wet desulfurization wastewater is reviewed from three aspects: physics, biology and chemistry. We believe that the coupling application of oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and pH can optimize selenium removal in the desulfurization system by improving the oxidation control. As a technology for wet desulfurization system to treat selenium pollution, it has a good development prospect in near future.Implications: Selenium is a trace element present in coal. It is not only of great significance to the life activities of organisms, but also a kind of rare resource. As the most important source of man-made emissions, coal-fired power plants will cause waste of selenium resources and selenium pollution in the surrounding environment. In this study, the occurrence, conversion and control of selenium in coal-fired power plants were systematically sorted out and analyzed. It is helpful for scholars to study the selenium transformation process more deeply. It is of great significance for policy formulation of recommended control technologies and emission limits. It is of great value for the formulation of recommended control technology and the in-depth study of the selenium transformation process.

Tailored design of nanofiltration membranes for water treatment based on synthesis-property-performance relationships

Tailored design of high-performance nanofiltration (NF) membranes is desirable because the requirements for membrane performance, particularly ion/salt rejection and selectivity, differ among the various applications of NF technology ranging from drinking water production to resource mining. However, this customization greatly relies on a comprehensive understanding of the influence of membrane fabrication methods and conditions on membrane properties and the relationships between the membrane structural and physicochemical properties and membrane performance. Since the inception of NF, much progress has been made in forming the foundation of tailored design of NF membranes and the underlying governing principles. This progress includes theories regarding NF mass transfer and solute rejection, further exploitation of the classical interfacial polymerization technique, and development of novel materials and membrane fabrication methods. In this critical review, we first summarize the progress made in controllable design of NF membrane properties in recent years from the perspective of optimizing interfacial polymerization techniques and adopting new manufacturing processes and materials. We then discuss the property-performance relationships based on solvent/solute mass transfer theories and mathematical models, and draw conclusions on membrane structural and physicochemical parameter regulation by modifying the fabrication process to improve membrane separation performance. Next, existing and potential applications of these NF membranes in water treatment processes are systematically discussed according to the different separation requirements. Finally, we point out the prospects and challenges of tailored design of NF membranes for water treatment applications. This review bridges the long-existing gaps between the pressing demand for suitable NF membranes from the industrial community and the surge of publications by the scientific community in recent years.

Materials interacting with inorganic selenium from the perspective of electrochemical sensing

Inorganic selenium, the most common form of harmful selenium in the environment, can be determined using electrochemical sensors, which are compact, fast, reliable and easy-to-operate devices. Despite progress in this area, there is still significant room for developing high-performance selenium electrochemical sensors. To achieve this, one should take into account (i) the electrochemical process that selenium undergoes on the electrode; (ii) the valence state of selenium species in the sample and (iii) modification of the sensor surface by a material with high affinity to selenium. The goal of this review is to provide a knowledge base for these issues. After the Introduction section, mechanisms and principles of the electrochemical reduction of selenium are introduced, followed by a section introducing the modification of electrodes with materials interacting with selenium and a section dedicated to speciation methods, including the reduction of non-detectable Se(VI) to detectable Se(IV). In the following sections, the main types of materials (metallic, polymers, hybrid (nano)materials…) interacting with inorganic selenium (mostly absorbents) are reviewed to show the diversity of properties that may be endowed to sensors if the materials were to be used for the modification of electrodes. These features for the main material categories are outlined in the conclusion section, where it is stated that the engineered polymers may be the most promising modifiers.

Recent advances in technologies for removal and recovery of selenium from (waste)water: A systematic review

Selenium (Se) is distributed into different environmental compartments by natural and anthropogenic activities, and generally discharged in the form of selenate [SeO₄^2-] and selenite [SeO₃^2-], which are both toxic. Physical-chemical and biological treatment processes have been reported to exhibit good treatment efficiencies for Se from aqueous streams, only a few demonstrated to achieve effluent concentrations <5 μg/L. Moreover, there are only a few numbers of studies that describe the progress in technological developments over the last decade. Therefore, to unify the state of knowledge, identify ongoing research trends, and determine the challenges associated with available technologies, this systematic review critically analyses the published research on Se treatment. Specific topics covered in this review include (1) Se chemistry, toxicity, sources and legislation, (2) types of Se treatment technologies, (3) development in Se treatment approaches, (4) Se recovery and circular economy and (5) future prospects. The current research has been found to majorly focused on Se removal via adsorption techniques. However, the key challenges facing Se treatment technologies are related to the presence of competing ions in the solution and the persistence of selenate compared to selenite during their reduction.

Removal of arsenic(III) via nanofiltration: contribution of organic matter interactions

The removal of arsenic(III) (As(III)) with nanofiltration (NF) was investigated with emphasis on the role of salinity, pH and organic matter on retention mechanisms. While no measurable impact of salinity on As(III) retention with NF membranes (NF270 and NF90) was observed, a significant increase in As(III) retention occurred from pH 9 to pH 12. This was explained by As(III) deprotonation at pH > 9 that enhanced Donnan (charge) exclusion. Of the five different organic matter types investigated at 10 mgC/L, only humic acid (HA) increased As(III) retention by up to 10%. Increasing HA concentration to 100 mgC/L enhanced As(III) retention by 40%, which was attributed to As(III)-HA complexation. Complexation was confirmed by field-flow fractionation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FFF-ICP-MS) measurements, which showed that the bound As(III) increased with HA concentration. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) showed that NF90, which exhibited lower permeability reduction than NF270, has accumulated a lower amount of As(III) in the presence of HA, where As(III)-HA complex was formed in the feed solution. This finding implies that As(III) retention with NF technology can be enhanced by complexation, instead of using other methods such as oxidation or pH adjustement.

Recent progress in using hybrid silicon polymer composites for wastewater treatment

Heavy metal ions, oil and organic pollutants in water does not only cause serious water pollution, but also pose serious threats to ecosystems and human health. To this end, water pollution has gradually gained human attention, and various wastewater treatment methods are emerging. Organosilicon polymer composites are a class of materials that contain organic-inorganic hybrid structures with the characteristics of hydrophobicity, thermal stability and easy modification, which provides a brand new solution for wastewater treatment. In this review, various structural features including amorphous, linear, and cage structure of silicon containing polymer composites and the removal mechanism targeting at heavy metal ions, oil and organic pollutants of silicon containing polymer composites are summarized. The viewpoints and challenges in adsorption and engineering application are discussed, and possible solutions are proposed.

Nanofiltration for Arsenic Removal: Challenges, Recent Developments, and Perspectives

Arsenic (As) removal is of major significance because inorganic arsenic is highly toxic to all life forms, is a confirmed carcinogen, and is of significant environmental concern. As contamination in drinking water alone threatens more than 150 million people all over the world. Therefore, several conventional methods such as oxidation, coagulation, adsorption, etc., have been implemented for As removal, but due to their cost-maintenance limitations; there is a drive for advanced, low cost nanofiltration membrane-based technology. Thus, in order to address the increasing demand of fresh and drinking water, this review focuses on advanced nanofiltration (NF) strategy for As removal to safeguard water security. The review concentrates on different types of NF membranes, membrane fabrication processes, and their mechanism and efficiency of performance for removing As from contaminated water. The article provides an overview of the current status of polymer-, polymer composite-, and polymer nanocomposite-based NF membranes, to assess the status of nanomaterial-facilitated NF membranes and to incite progress in this area. Finally, future perspectives and future trends are highlighted.

Hydrophilic Hollow Nanocube-Functionalized Thin Film Nanocomposite Membrane with Enhanced Nanofiltration Performance

The performance of thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane is significantly determined by the inherent structure and composition of the incorporated nanofillers. In this work, hydrophilic hollow nanocubes (HHNs) derived from zeolitic imidazolate framework 8 (ZIF-8) were incorporated into the polyamide layer via an interfacial polymerization approach. The HHNs with abundant hydroxyl groups on the surface were obtained by etching solid ZIF-8 using tannic acid. Benefiting from the hydrophilicity, hollow structure, and negative charge of HHNs, the outstanding nanofiltration performance of the composite membrane was achieved. With the assistance of HHNs, the permeance and Na₂SO₄ rejection of the TFN membrane increased up to 19.4 ± 0.6 L/(m²·h·bar) and 95.2 ± 1.4%, corresponding to an improvement of 190% of the permeance and 2.0% of the rejection compared to the pristine thin film composite membrane. Comparatively, the performance of TFN membranes prepared with solid ZIF-8 only shows 116% improvements of the permeance with slightly increased salt rejection. More importantly, the antifouling property of the TFN-4H membrane was also elevated. The flux recovery ratios of the TFN-4H membrane are 93.2 and 84.7% corresponding to humic acid and bovine serum albumin solutions, respectively. The results indicate that the nanofiltration performance of the composite membrane was significantly enhanced with the incorporation of HHNs.