Ionic-liquid-enhanced filtration membranes for simultaneous capture and inactivation of wastewater-relevant viruses and bacteria

Wastewater treatment is critical for mitigating global water scarcity, yet cost-effective, sustainable virus removal from municipal and hospital effluents remains challenging. Low-pressure polymeric membranes are attractive but usually lack virus selectivity. Here we developed carbon fiber–supported electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride- co -hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) membranes incorporating tuneable, environmentally stable ionic liquids (ILs) to enhance virus adsorption and inactivation. Electrospun PVDF-HFP mats were modified with a hydrophobic IL comprising a pyrrolidinium-based cation and imide-based anion selected for fluoropolymer compatibility and known virucidal activity. Hybrid filters with microfiltration-range pores were challenged with influenza A virus (IAV) and murine norovirus (MNV) representing wastewater transported viruses. Low IL loadings (0.5–2 wt%) refined fiber and pore morphology and tuned surface charge and roughness while retaining hydrophobicity, enhancing capture via combined sieving and interfacial interactions. IL-modified membranes achieved up to a 5-log reduction value (LRV) for IAV, exceeding pristine membranes and benchmark targets of ≥4 LRV. The membranes also exhibited ≥80% porosity, bacterial rejection in crossflow filtration of up to 3 LRV and maintained permeate fluxes of ∼500 L m −2 h −1 (LMH) at ∼0.5 bar, supporting low-pressure operation. These results highlight IL functionalization of electrospun PVDF-HFP as a practical platform for improved virus removal in sustainable wastewater treatment.