Membrane Technology in Circular Economy: Current Status and Future Projections

Water scarcity and the emergence of trace organic pollutants in aquatic environments have made it challenging to obtain potable water. Membrane technology is an inevitable process for producing potable water from brackish water and recovering value-added products from wastewater. This chapter intends to discuss key developments in bio-products and water circular economy-based pressure-driven membrane processes from wastewater. Reverse osmosis (RO) is the viable technique for the production of potable water from saline water resources. Microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), and nanofiltration (NF) have recently gained prominence in the recovery of value-added products such as bioactive compounds, nutrients, and water from wastewater. Membrane fouling is a critical factor and the control strategies in MF, UF, NF, and RO are also highlighted in this chapter. Nanocomposite-based mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) and thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes showed significant influence in enhancement of flux, solute rejection, and fouling minimization. The potential of waste as a low-cost filler and base material for membrane fabrication has also been reviewed. Overall, this chapter would provide an overview of cost-effective membranes and hybrid membrane process for the sustainable desalination and wastewater reclamation.