The research employs in situ experimental methods (liquid phase AFM, in situ X-ray scattering/spectroscopy) and computational tools to investigate how nanocellulose surface chemistry and structure influence membrane performance during operation. The project addresses three core questions: whether in situ techniques can evaluate metal chelation and chemical transformations during nanocellulose-hybrid synthesis; whether characterization methods can explain performance under real-world conditions with multiple water pollutants; and whether computational modeling can optimize and clarify mechanisms at nano and molecular scales.