Lakshmi Menon
Independent Researcher
India
Abstract
Membrane filtration systems have become crucial for water treatment, wastewater management, and various industrial separation processes. However, challenges such as membrane fouling, limited permeability, and selectivity constrain their efficiency. Nanomaterials, owing to their unique physicochemical properties such as high surface area, tunable surface functionality, and antimicrobial characteristics, have emerged as promising additives to enhance membrane performance. This paper presents a comprehensive study on the integration of nanomaterials into membrane filtration systems to improve permeability, fouling resistance, mechanical strength, and selectivity. The review focuses on carbon-based nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide), metal oxide nanoparticles (TiO2, ZnO), and nanocomposites developed up to the year 2020. Experimental methodologies for membrane fabrication, characterization techniques, and performance evaluation metrics are discussed. The results indicate that nanomaterial-modified membranes demonstrate significantly improved filtration efficiency, fouling mitigation, and operational durability. This research contributes to advancing membrane technology by highlighting the potential and limitations of nanomaterial incorporation within the constraints of pre-2020 engineering technologies.
Keywords
Nanomaterials, Membrane Filtration, Fouling Resistance, Permeability, Carbon Nanotubes, Graphene Oxide, Metal Oxide Nanoparticles, Water Treatment.
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