Table 1 Recent works involving applications of BN in separation applications

1

Ref. 53 Lei et al. (Porous boron nitride nanosheets for effective water cleaning) [53]

Exfoliated BN nanosheets

Absorption of dyes, organic solvents, and oils

Ethanol, Toluene, Pump oil, Used Engine oil, Ethylene Glycol absorption ranging between 2000–3300%

2

Ref. 40 Lei et al. (Boron nitride colloidal solutions, ultralight aerogels and freestanding membranes through one-step exfoliation and functionalization) [40]

Aerogel, free-standing membranes of BN nanosheets

Proof of concept

-

3

Ref. 54 Liu et al. (Multifunctional Polymer/Porous Boron Nitride Nanosheet Membranes for Superior Trapping Emulsified Oils and Organic Molecules) [54]

BN nanosheets incorporated into PVDF- Mixed matrix membrane

Oil–water separation, Dye and pharmaceutical rejection

Carbamazapine, ciprofloxacin, chlortetracycline: 100% removal upto a critical concentration of BN in the membranes

4

Ref. 55 Marichy et al. (Fabrication of BN membranes containing high density of cylindrical pores using an elegant approach) [55]

Free-standing BN membrane through atomic layer deposition

Proof of concept

-

5

Ref. 42 Abdikheibari et al. (Thin film nanocomposite nanofiltration membranes from amine functionalized-boron nitride/polypiperazine amide with enhanced flux and fouling resistance) [42]

BN nanosheets embedded in the Polyamide layer of a thin film composite membrane

Fouling resistance

97% of the initial flux retained during filtration with 120 ppm humic acid solution

6

Ref. 56 Abdikheibari et al. (Novel thin film nanocomposite membranes decorated with few-layered boron nitride nanosheets for simultaneously enhanced water flux and organic fouling resistance) [56]

BN nanosheets deposited on top of the Polyamide layer of a thin film composite membrane

Fouling resistance

Sodium alginate and bovine serum albumin separation maintained over 92% over 3 cycles, 59% increase in fouling resistance on addition of BN

7

Ref. 60 Chen et al. (Functionalized boron nitride membranes with multipurpose and super-stable semi-permeability in solvents) [60]

BN nanosheets deposited onto a porous nylon support

Solvent separation

Permeation rates of 1.5 – 2.5 mmol m⁻² h⁻¹ of paraxylene over pyrene (0.5 mol m⁻² h⁻¹) after solvation with water, ethanol, acetone, hexane, toluene

8

Ref. 61 Chen et al. (Functionalized boron nitride membranes with ultrafast solvent transport performance for molecular separation) [61]

BN nanosheets deposited onto a porous nylon support

Dye rejection in organic solvents

90–100% rejection of congo red, methylene blue, evans blue in methanol for certain concentrations of the dye solutions

9

Ref. 57 Gonzalez-Ortiz et al. (Development of novel h-BNNS/PVA porous membranes: Via Pickering emulsion templating) [57]

BN nanosheets incorporated into a Polyvinyl alcohol matrix through pickering emulsion templating

Fouling resistance

76% rejection of polystyrene latex particles of 0.1 microns and 99.7% rejection of 1.2 micron size particles

10

Ref. 58 Low et al. (Fouling resistant 2D boron nitride nanosheet – PES nano filtration membranes) [58]

BN/PES mixed matrix membrane

Fouling resistance

Flux recovery ration of 100% after fouling with 1wt% humic acid

11

Ref. 59 Zahirifar et al. (Influence of hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets as the additives on the characteristics and performance of PVDF for air gap membrane distillation) [59]

BN/PVDF mixed matrix membrane

Enhanced thermal stability and permeance in membrane distillation

99% rejection of 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, along with a water flux of 7.1 kg m⁻² h⁻¹

12

Ref. 41 Chen et al. (Ultrafast, Stable Ionic and Molecular Sieving through Functionalized Boron Nitride Membranes) [41]

BN nanosheets deposited onto a porous cellulose ester support

Enhance ion-permeation rates/ to compare permeation rates of various ions

Permeation rates of 1 × 10⁻³ mol h⁻¹ m⁻² for glycerol, sucrose and Mn²⁺ ions while permeation rates of 1–10 mol h⁻¹ m⁻² for Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺

13

Ref. 43 Pendse et al. (Charged Layered Boron Nitride‐Nanoflake Membranes for Efficient Ion Separation and Water Purification) [43]

BN nanosheets deposited onto an anodized aluminium oxide porous support

Anion rejection

 > 97% rejection for K₂SO₄, MgSO₄ as well as for anionic dyes such as congo red

14

Ref. 62 Lin et al. (Graphite oxide/boron nitride hybrid membranes: The role of cross-plane laminar bonding for a durable membrane with large water flux and high rejection rate) [62]

BN and GO nanosheets alternately deposited onapolydopamine coated porous PES support

Stabilization of GO, dye rejection

99.98% rejection of methylene blue, stable over 9 h

15

Ref. 63 Chen et al. (Bio-inspired Nanocomposite Membranes for Osmotic Energy Harvesting) [63]

BN/Aramid nanofiber composite membrane

Osmotic power generation

0.6 Wm⁻² power density, retained over 200 h

16

Ref. 64 Yazda et al. (High Osmotic Power Generation via Nanopore Arrays in Hybrid Hexagonal Boron Nitride/Silicon Nitride Membranes) [64]

BN/SiN hybrid membrane

Osmotic power generation

Varied between 10–30 pW depending on the pore spacing

17

Ref. 66 Das et al. (High flux and adsorption based non-functionalized hexagonal boron nitride lamellar membrane for ultrafast water purification) [66]

BN nanosheets deposited onto a PVDF porous support

Dye rejection

 > 90% rejection of methyl orange and direct red-80, adsorption capacitites for bisphenol A, methyl orange and direct red-80: 125.7, 120.8, and 328.2 mg/g

18

Ref. 65 Keshebo et al. (Simultaneous exfoliation and functionalization of hexagonal boron nitride in the aqueous phase for the synthesis of high-performance wastewater treatment membrane) [65]

BN nanosheets deposited onto a porous nylon support

Dye rejection, fouling resistance

90% rejection of methylene blue, rhodamine B and congo red, > 92% of initial flux maintained after 7 cycles

31

Ref. 67 Liang, G. et al. (Boron Nitride Ultrathin Fibrous Nanonets: One-Step Synthesis and Applications for Ultrafast Adsorption for Water Treatment and Selective Filtration of Nanoparticles) [67]

Nanonet made from BN nanofibres

Dye removal

327.8 mg/g of methylene blue adsorbed in 1 min

32

Ref. 68 Liang, G. et al. (Controlled Fabrication of Ultrathin-Shell BN Hollow Spheres with Excellent Performance in Hydrogen Storage and Wastewater Treatment) [68]

BN Nanospheres

Hydrogen storage, dye removal

Adsorption capacity for basic yellow 1 and methylene blue- 191.7 and 116.5 mg/g, hydrogen uptake capacity up to 4.07 wt.% at 298 K and 10 MPa

33

Ref. 69 Liu et al. (Nanosheet-Structured Boron Nitride Spheres with a Versatile Adsorption Capacity for Water Cleaning) [69]

BN spheres

Heavy metals and organic dye removal

Adsorption capacities for malachite green and methylene blue—324 and 233 mg/g, for Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Cd²⁺ are 678.7, 536.7, and 107.0 mg/g

34

Ref. 44 Li J et al. (Activated Boron Nitride as an Effective Adsorbent for Metal Ions and Organic Pollutants) [44]

Porous BN ribbons

Heavy metal, antibiotic, dye removal

Adsorption capacity for Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Ce³⁺, and Pb²⁺—215, 235, 282 and 225 mg/g, for tetracycline, methyl orange and congo red and 300–400 mg/g

35

Ref. 75 Li Jie et al. (Chemical Activation of Boron Nitride Fibers for Improved Cationic Dye Removal Performance) [75]

BN fibres

Dye removal

Adsorption capacity for methylene blue was 392.2 mg/g

36

Ref 76 Song et al. (The Performance of Porous Hexagonal BN in High Adsorption Capacity towards Antibiotics Pollutants from Aqueous Solution) [76]

Rod like porous BN

Antibiotic removal

adsorption capacity for tetracycline—322.16 mg/g

37

Ref 79 Jei Li et al. (NaOH-Embedded Three-Dimensional Porous Boron Nitride for Efficient Formaldehyde Removal) [79]

3D BN adsorbent

Formaldehyde adsorption

Adsorption capacity for formaldehyde > 350 mg/g

38

Ref 45 Yanming Xue et al. (Template-free synthesis of boron nitride foam-like porous monoliths and their high-end applications in water purification) [45]

Porous BN monolith

Heavy metal and dye removal

Adsorption capacity for rhodamine B and Cd²⁺ was 554 mg/g and 561 mg/g

39

Ref 80 Jun Yin et al. (Ultralight Three-Dimensional Boron Nitride Foam with Ultralow Permittivity and Superelasticity) [80]

BN foam

Proof of concept

-

40

Ref 84 Liu Z (Novel Multifunctional Cheese-like 3D Carbon-BN as a Highly Efficient Adsorbent for Water Purification) [84]

C-BN foam

Heavy metal and dye removal

Adsorption capacity for methylene blue and congo red was 402.25 mg/g and 307 mg/g,

Cr³⁺ is 453.1 mg/g, Cd²⁺ and Ni²⁺ are 482.1 and 172.6 mg/g

41

Ref 86 Krishna Kumar et al. (Heavy Metal and Organic Dye Removal via a Hybrid Porous Hexagonal Boron Nitride-Based Magnetic Aerogel) [86]

BN nanosheets/Polyvinylalcohol foam

Heavy metal, dye removal

Adsorption capacity for Cr(VI), As(V), methylene blue, and acid orange was 833, 426, 415, 286 mg/g

42

Ref 87 Liu et al. (Layer‐by‐Layer Assembly Fabrication of Porous Boron Nitride Coated Multifunctional Materials for Water Cleaning) [87]

BN nanosheets deposited on cotton fabric or melamine

Oil–water separation

Adsorption ability for pump oil, white oil, and chloroform was in the range of 58–112 times its own weight