Grand Challenges in the Development of Adsorptive Membrane for Water and Wastewater Treatment

Integrating nanotechnology and membrane technology has resulted in the development of adsorptive nanocomposite membranes with exceptional properties for various applications, including water reclamation. The application of adsorptive membranes in wastewater treatment is a promising technology that combines the advantages of adsorption and membrane filtration techniques. Literature reviews reported that various adsorptive membranes were successfully developed and efficiently removed emerging contaminants such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants from water over the last decades. However, grand challenges in developing adsorptive membranes require more attention, such as aggregation and agglomeration of nanoadsorbents within membrane matrix, mechanical strength distortion, extreme water permeability, and alterations in surface charge. These challenges, as mentioned earlier, could deteriorate the performance of adsorptive membranes. Consequently, future research should focus on overcoming these challenges to employ adsorptive membranes to preserve the environment.