Ion Separation Together with Water Purification via a New Type of Nanotube: A Molecular Dynamics Study

We propose a CNT-based concentric twin tube (CTT) as nanochannels for both water purification and ion separation at the nanoscale. In the model, a source reservoir dealing with the solution connects three containers via the CTT that has three subchannels for mass transfer. Before entering the three subchannels, the solution in the separating zone will form three layers (the aqua cations, water, and the aqua anions, respectively) by applying a charged capacitor with the two electrodes parallel to the flow direction of the solution. Under an electric field with moderate intensity, the three subchannels in the CTT have stable configurations for mass transfer. Since the water and the two types of aqua ions are collected by three different containers, the present model can realize both ion separation and water purification. The mass transfer in the subchannels will be sped up by an external pressure exerted on the solution in the source reservoir. The physical properties of the model, e.g., water purification speed, are analyzed with respect to the effects of the electric field, the size of CTT, and the concentration of solute, such as NaCl.