Evolution of functional feed-side interfaces in membrane distillation: From stability to selectivity and reactivity

IF 12.8 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Water Research Pub Date : 2027-01-15 Epub Date: 2026-10-15 DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2026.127155

Minjie Song, Zhigao Zhu, Jiajie Zhang, Yunlong Wang, Junwen Qi, Yue Yang, Yujun Zhou, Jiansheng Li

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Membrane distillation (MD) has emerged as a promising technology for the concentration of hypersaline wastewater. Nevertheless, its practical deployment remains constrained by persistent interfacial challenges, including membrane wetting, fouling, scaling, and the co-transport of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with water vapor. This review systematically examines the evolution of functional feed-side interfaces in MD, highlighting their conceptual progression from interfacial stability to molecular selectivity and ultimately to interfacial reactivity. Specifically, hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, omniphobic, and Janus interfaces are designed to mitigate membrane wetting, fouling, and scaling. Beyond stability-oriented engineering, selective interfaces incorporate dense, hydrated, or nanoconfined layers to regulate molecular sorption, diffusion, and evaporation, thereby enabling precise discrimination between water and volatile contaminants. Reactive interfaces further introduce localized catalytic domains within the feed-side region to enable in situ transformation of accumulated contaminants. This trajectory reflects a broader shift from passive capillary protection to active molecular transport regulation and chemical transformation, while presenting new trade-offs under complex hypersaline conditions. By consolidating these advances within a unified stability–selectivity–reactivity framework, this review elucidates fundamental design principles and outlines strategic priorities for the practical translation of next-generation MD membranes.

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膜蒸馏中进料侧功能界面的演化：从稳定性到选择性和反应性

膜蒸馏（MD）是一种很有前途的处理高盐废水的技术。然而，它的实际应用仍然受到持续存在的界面挑战的限制，包括膜润湿、污垢、结垢以及挥发性有机化合物（VOCs）与水蒸气的共同运输。这篇综述系统地研究了MD中功能性进料侧界面的演变，强调了它们从界面稳定性到分子选择性，最终到界面反应性的概念进展。具体来说，疏水、超疏水、全疏水和Janus界面旨在减轻膜润湿、结垢和结垢。除了以稳定性为导向的工程外，选择性界面还包括致密、水合或纳米限制层，以调节分子的吸附、扩散和蒸发，从而能够精确区分水和挥发性污染物。反应界面进一步在进料侧区域引入局部催化域，以实现累积污染物的原位转化。这一轨迹反映了从被动毛细血管保护到主动分子运输调节和化学转化的更广泛的转变，同时在复杂的高盐条件下提出了新的权衡。通过在统一的稳定性-选择性-反应性框架内巩固这些进展，本综述阐明了基本的设计原则，并概述了下一代MD膜实际翻译的战略重点。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Water Research 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

20.80

自引率

9.40%

发文量

1307

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Water Research, along with its open access companion journal Water Research X, serves as a platform for publishing original research papers covering various aspects of the science and technology related to the anthropogenic water cycle, water quality, and its management worldwide. The audience targeted by the journal comprises biologists, chemical engineers, chemists, civil engineers, environmental engineers, limnologists, and microbiologists. The scope of the journal include: •Treatment processes for water and wastewaters (municipal, agricultural, industrial, and on-site treatment), including resource recovery and residuals management; •Urban hydrology including sewer systems, stormwater management, and green infrastructure; •Drinking water treatment and distribution; •Potable and non-potable water reuse; •Sanitation, public health, and risk assessment; •Anaerobic digestion, solid and hazardous waste management, including source characterization and the effects and control of leachates and gaseous emissions; •Contaminants (chemical, microbial, anthropogenic particles such as nanoparticles or microplastics) and related water quality sensing, monitoring, fate, and assessment; •Anthropogenic impacts on inland, tidal, coastal and urban waters, focusing on surface and ground waters, and point and non-point sources of pollution; •Environmental restoration, linked to surface water, groundwater and groundwater remediation; •Analysis of the interfaces between sediments and water, and between water and atmosphere, focusing specifically on anthropogenic impacts; •Mathematical modelling, systems analysis, machine learning, and beneficial use of big data related to the anthropogenic water cycle; •Socio-economic, policy, and regulations studies.