Membrane Separation Technologies

Membrane separation technologies use semi-permeable barriers to remove salts, contaminants, and pathogens from water, forming the physical basis of modern desalination plants, nanofiltration systems, and emerging forward osmosis processes. As freshwater scarcity intensifies globally, researchers are pushing these materials toward greater energy efficiency, longer operational lifespans, and the ability to handle increasingly complex waste streams. A central challenge is membrane fouling—the gradual clogging of pore structures by biological growth, mineral scaling, and organic matter—which degrades performance and drives up costs. Much of the current work focuses on designing antifouling surfaces and engineering next-generation materials, including graphene-based and advanced polymer membranes, that can sustain high throughput while remaining economically and environmentally viable at scale.

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99,403

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2,464,624

Keywords

Membrane TechnologyDesalinationNanofiltrationForward OsmosisGraphene-based MembranesMembrane Fouling