Zeolite-coated membranes for efficient separation of oil-water mixture

In this era of growing industrialization, exploitation of water is surging leading to water contamination severely affecting various flora and fauna, causing infections like necrosis, hypothermia, carcinogenicity, sensory inhibition, Stem cell destruction, which overall impacts organism body weight, growth, behavior causing high mortality rate. The scientific community is actively searching for alternatives for efficient oil-water emulsion separation materials exhibiting excessive adsorption capacity, durability and are energy intensive. Zeolite being versatile for separation processes due to its highly porous structure, ion exchange, and adsorptive properties. Recently Some studies have delved on incorporating zeolite coating on various support substrates to develop a membrane to separate oil from water mixture. This review will provide explicit insight on the characteristics, synthesis methods of zeolites and membranes, characterization techniques, modifications, and toxicology analysis. The review emphasizes discussion on the factors affecting wettability and modified coating’s properties to enhance its hydrostability, anti-corrosion, self-cleaning, anti-fouling, and bactericidal properties.