TY - JOUR
T1 - Surface-Patterned Water Separation Membranes
T2 - A Critical Analysis of Current Knowledge and Future Research Needs
AU - Mitranescu, Alexander
AU - Patel, Maharshi
AU - Panglisch, Stefan
AU - Drewes, Jörg E.
AU - ElSherbiny, Ibrahim M.A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.
PY - 2024/12/13
Y1 - 2024/12/13
N2 - Surface-patterned membranes with engineered nano- and microstructures are emerging as a promising approach to mitigate fouling and enhance membrane performance in water treatment and desalination. This review critically evaluates the current state of research, drawing on findings from over 100 studies to highlight key findings and identify knowledge gaps. A significant research gap persists in understanding the performance of surface-patterned membranes in spacer-filled channels, given their relevance for practical applications. This Perspective provides a summary of critical aspects of key fabrication techniques and relevant characterization methods. In addition, reported performance results are assessed, including effects of fabrication methods on membrane permeability and limitations in scaling and biofouling analyses. By consolidating experimental and numerical outputs, we explored prevailing hydrodynamic theories for surface-patterned membranes in spacer-free channels and their implications for fouling control and hydrodynamic cleaning efficiency. These primary mechanistic effects are often found to be case-specific and occasionally contradictory. Notably, limitations in computational fluid dynamics modeling, often reliant on idealized membrane surfaces, are being discussed with recommendations to achieve improved model accuracy. This review concludes by identifying critical research areas and the needs to advance surface-patterned membranes for sustainable water separation applications.
AB - Surface-patterned membranes with engineered nano- and microstructures are emerging as a promising approach to mitigate fouling and enhance membrane performance in water treatment and desalination. This review critically evaluates the current state of research, drawing on findings from over 100 studies to highlight key findings and identify knowledge gaps. A significant research gap persists in understanding the performance of surface-patterned membranes in spacer-filled channels, given their relevance for practical applications. This Perspective provides a summary of critical aspects of key fabrication techniques and relevant characterization methods. In addition, reported performance results are assessed, including effects of fabrication methods on membrane permeability and limitations in scaling and biofouling analyses. By consolidating experimental and numerical outputs, we explored prevailing hydrodynamic theories for surface-patterned membranes in spacer-free channels and their implications for fouling control and hydrodynamic cleaning efficiency. These primary mechanistic effects are often found to be case-specific and occasionally contradictory. Notably, limitations in computational fluid dynamics modeling, often reliant on idealized membrane surfaces, are being discussed with recommendations to achieve improved model accuracy. This review concludes by identifying critical research areas and the needs to advance surface-patterned membranes for sustainable water separation applications.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85209366867&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acsestwater.4c00779
DO - 10.1021/acsestwater.4c00779
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85209366867
SN - 2690-0637
VL - 4
SP - 5225
EP - 5242
JO - ACS Environmental Science and Technology Water
JF - ACS Environmental Science and Technology Water
IS - 12
ER -