One of the greatest challenges to the sustainability of modern society is an inadequate supply of clean water. Due to its energy-saving and cost-effective features, membrane technology has become an indispensable platform technology for water purification, including seawater and brackish water desalination as well as municipal or industrial wastewater treatment. However, membrane fouling, which arises from the nonspecific interaction between membrane surface and foulants, significantly impedes the efficient application of membrane technology. Preparing antifouling membranes is a fundamental strategy to deal with pervasive fouling problems from a variety of foulants. In recent years, major advancements have been made in membrane preparation techniques and in elucidating the antifouling mechanisms of membrane processes, including ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and forward osmosis. This review will first introduce the major foulants and the principal mechanisms of membrane fouling, and then highlight the development, current status and future prospects of antifouling membranes, including antifouling strategies, preparation techniques and practical applications. In particular, the strategies and mechanisms for antifouling membranes, including passive fouling resistance and fouling release, active off-surface and on-surface strategies, will be proposed and discussed extensively.

Antifouling membranes for sustainable water purification: strategies and mechanisms

Preparation of a novel antifouling mixed matrix PES membrane by embedding graphene oxide nanoplates

Polymer-matrix nanocomposite membranes for water treatment

https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48864/Download/0048864-07032019141310.pdf

Reverse osmosis desalination: A state-of-the-art review

A review on polyamide thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes: History, applications, challenges and approaches

Improving the performance of polyamide reverse osmosis membrane by incorporation of modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes

In this paper, isocyanate-treated graphene oxide (iGO), which can be well dispersed in organic solvent, was prepared in a simple manner and showed excellent compatibility with polysulfone (PSF). iGO–PSF ultrafiltration membranes were prepared by the classical phase inversion method. The separation performance and the antifouling property of the prepared membranes were investigated in detail. The antifouling property of the prepared membranes was found to be greatly enhanced by the addition of iGO, and we attributed the enhanced antifouling property to the improved hydrophilicity, the more negative zeta potential and the improved smoothness of the membrane surface.

Haiyang Zhao

Papers

Improving the performance of polyamide reverse osmosis membrane by incorporation of modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Improving the antifouling property of polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane by incorporation of isocyanate-treated graphene oxide

Seawater desalination technology and engineering in China: A review

High flux MWCNTs-interlinked GO hybrid membranes survived in cross-flow filtration for the treatment of strontium-containing wastewater.

Improving docosahexaenoic acid productivity of Schizochytrium sp. by a two-stage AEMR/shake mixed culture mode.