Recent Advances in Membrane Filtration and Purification Technologies

Membrane technology has progressed rapidly over recent decades, including a range of approaches such as filtration, reverse osmosis, and gas separation. These methods have played a crucial role in advancing water treatment and desalination efforts to address the growing global shortage of clean water. Despite their effectiveness, many of these processes remain costly due to their high energy demands. As a result, significant research has focused on developing more efficient and economical approaches, particularly in the area of wastewater recycling. Recent innovations in membrane design, especially those emphasizing lower production and operational costs, have renewed interest in this field and opened pathways regarding more sustainable environmental solutions. Membranes are now widely used across various industrial sectors, including water purification, desalination, protein separation and food processing. However, membrane fouling caused by the accumulation of unwanted substances on membrane surfaces continues to hinder performance and reduce efficiency. Therefore, the development of antifouling membranes is essential. This reprint is intended to attract the readership interested in membrane materials, hybrid systems, design strategies and characterization methods, alongside applications in filtration, separation, and purification.