A review of polymeric nanocomposite membranes for water purification

Abstract

Nanocomposites are now commonly employed to augment the standard polymeric membrane materials that are used in water treatment processes. A number of different materials and methods have been put forward; amongst those that show the greatest promise so far are thin-film nanocomposite (TFN), electrospun polymeric nanofibrous membranes, carbon nanotubes, metal and metal oxides, graphene and graphene oxide, and zwitterionic materials. This paper presents a detailed review of the current developments in the use of polymeric nanocomposite membranes for purifying water. Various nanocomposite membranes have been reported to evaluate their effectiveness in terms of resistance to fouling and the performance of the membranes. A specific focus has been placed on better understanding how nanomaterials can be used in a number of different ways, such as nanofiltration, micro-filtration, reverse osmosis and membrane distillation. This review aims to offer inspiration for further progress in the field of water treatment and desalination employing polymeric nanocomposite membranes.