Recent progress and challenges on adsorptive membranes for the removal of pollutants from wastewater. Part I: Fundamentals and classification of membranes

The development of novel wastewater reuse technologies appears to be a thriving area of research. Adsorptive membranes are considered among the promising technologies that exhibited efficiency and competence in water reuse. They have the potential of removing different types of emerging pollutants from wastewater that cannot be removed via conventional methods. These membranes are attractive because of the dual advantage of adsorption/filtration mechanisms and by virtue of their various types and configurations. The use of adsorptive membranes tackles several issues including fouling, process cost, adsorbent regeneration, adsorption capacity, membrane permeability, rejection rates, and selectivity. This review is devoted to discussing adsorptive membranes and their fabrication techniques, as well as presenting their various types and classifications. The challenges associated with their application are also reviewed. Their classifications can be established based on either the type of the adsorbent used or their polymers matrix. The major challenges are fouling and identifying the right filling materials. The review also identified the great potential of using these membranes in removing emerging pollutants.