biostudies-literatureGan BInnovation and Technology Commission (ITF)Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee (RGC, UGC)University of Hong Kong (HKU)8656https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11455960biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Nanofiltration (NF) membranes are commonly supplied in spiral-wound modules, resulting in numerous drawbacks for practical applications (e.g., high operating pressure/pressure drop/costs). Vacuum-driven NF could be a promising and low-cost alternative by utilizing simple components and operating under an ultra-low vacuum pressure (<1 bar). Nevertheless, existing commercial membranes are incapable of achieving practically relevant water flux in such a system. Herein, we fabricated a silk-based membrane with a crumpled and defect-free rejection layer, showing water permeance of 96.2 ± 10 L m^-2 h^-1 bar^-1 and a Na₂SO₄ rejection of 96.0 ± 0.6% under cross-flow filtration mode. In a vacuum-driven system, the membrane demonstrates a water fluNature communicationsUltra-permeable silk-based polymeric membranes for vacuum-driven nanofiltration.PMC11455960URC Small Equipment Fund 102010138GRF 17201921ITS/249/20GHP/181/20GDSeed Funding for Strategies Interdisciplinary Research Scheme 102010174SRFS2021-7S04Gan BPeng LEYang ZWang LAGuo HLong LZhang LSong XTang CYLiu WfalseUltra-permeable silk-based polymeric membranes for vacuum-driven nanofiltration.Nanofiltration (NF) membranes are commonly supplied in spiral-wound modules, resulting in numerous drawbacks for practical applications (e.g., high operating pressure/pressure drop/costs). Vacuum-driven NF could be a promising and low-cost alternative by utilizing simple components and operating under an ultra-low vacuum pressure (<1 bar). Nevertheless, existing commercial membranes are incapable of achieving practically relevant water flux in such a system. Herein, we fabricated a silk-based membrane with a crumpled and defect-free rejection layer, showing water permeance of 96.2 ± 10 L m^-2 h^-1 bar^-1 and a Na₂SO₄ rejection of 96.0 ± 0.6% under cross-flow filtration mode. In a vacuum-driven system, the membrane demonstrates a water flu2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Oct2025-04-26T08:48:34.987Z2025-04-06T12:48:40.784ZS-EPMC114559603936897710.1038/s41467-024-53042-6