Novel Membrane Materials for Reverse Osmosis Desalination

Abstract

A review. The use of solvents in desalination processes limits the use of certain materials in the construction of the reverse osmosis membranes. Therefore now the research effort has focused on improving new materials. In particular, nanostructured materials will probably form the basis for new reverse osmosis membrane materials. This study makes a review of the new materials used for the construction of reverse osmosis membranes, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages that each of them gives to the desalination process. Firstly inorg. membranes, made mainly from zeolites, offer higher tolerance to a variety of feed waters and harsh cleaning methods. Secondly, two carbonderived materials as carbon nanotubes, exhibit high permeability and high rejection rate, and graphene, with high breaking strength and impermeability to mols. as small std. gases. Finally, a novel concept of membranes called Mixed Matrix Membrane (MMM) which combines org. and inorg. material and the benefits of each one. [on SciFinder(R)]