Nanomaterials for membrane synthesis: Introduction, mechanism, and challenges for wastewater treatment

Abstract This chapter deals with nanomaterial application in membrane synthesis. This chapter discusses recent trends in nanomaterial application for membrane synthesis, mechanism of membrane synthesis, and challenges for water purification applications. Inorganic and organic membranes are conventional types of membranes, and these membranes are mainly used in microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and nanofiltration. These conventional membranes can be attached with metal oxide-based nanoparticles, nanofillers, and carbon-based nanoparticles. Each nanomaterial exhibits different advantages and disadvantages, thus we need to choose the nanomaterials according to the application of the membrane. Phase inversion technique, sintering, layer-by-layer technique, and interfacial polymerization technique are the main synthesis methods of nanomaterial-based membranes. These methods are described in detail, and recent advances and applications of these techniques are also described in detail. Challenges like fouling, microbial growth on membrane, and toxicity due to nanomaterials like silica nanoparticle, carbon-based nanoparticles, and copper nanoparticles are discussed in brief.