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Materials for next-generation desalination and water purification membranes

Nature Reviews Materials volume 1, Article number: 16018 (2016) Cite this article

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An Erratum to this article was published on 17 May 2016

Abstract

Membrane-based separations for water purification and desalination have been increasingly applied to address the global challenges of water scarcity and the pollution of aquatic environments. However, progress in water purification membranes has been constrained by the inherent limitations of conventional membrane materials. Recent advances in methods for controlling the structure and chemical functionality in polymer films can potentially lead to new classes of membranes for water purification. In this Review, we first discuss the state of the art of existing membrane technologies for water purification and desalination, highlight their inherent limitations and establish the urgent requirements for next-generation membranes. We then describe molecular-level design approaches towards fabricating highly selective membranes, focusing on novel materials such as aquaporin, synthetic nanochannels, graphene and self-assembled block copolymers and small molecules. Finally, we highlight promising membrane surface modification approaches that minimize interfacial interactions and enhance fouling resistance.

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Figure 1: State-of-the-art membranes for water treatment.
Figure 2: Permeability–selectivity trade-off relationships for ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis membranes.
Figure 3: Selective membranes formed using molecular-level design.
Figure 4: Polymeric materials and self-segregation approach for fouling minimization in phase inversion membranes.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge support received from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) under award numbers CBET-1437630 and CMMI-1246804 and through the NSF Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment (ERC-1449500). The authors also acknowledge the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship awarded to J.R.W.

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  1. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, 06520–8286, Connecticut, USA

    Jay R. Werber, Chinedum O. Osuji & Menachem Elimelech

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  1. Jay R. Werber
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  2. Chinedum O. Osuji
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  3. Menachem Elimelech
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Correspondence to Menachem Elimelech.

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Werber, J., Osuji, C. & Elimelech, M. Materials for next-generation desalination and water purification membranes. Nat Rev Mater 1, 16018 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/natrevmats.2016.18

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