Nanomaterial-enhanced membranes for advanced water and wastewater treatment: a comprehensive review

Membrane filtration technologies play a crucial role in water and wastewater treatment due to their high efficiency in removing diverse pollutants, including metal traces, organic compounds, pharmaceuticals and microorganisms. However, conventional membranes suffer from significant limitations, such as fouling, limited chemical resistance, and low mechanical strength, which hinder their long-term performance and economic viability. Addressing these challenges is critical for advancing water/wastewater treatment technologies. This study explores the transformative potential of integrating advanced nanomaterials (NMs) into membrane structures to enhance their efficiency, durability and pollutant removal capabilities. NMs such as ZnO, TiO2, Fe2O3, CuO, SiO2, GO, and MOFs are selected for their exceptional properties, including high surface area, strong adsorption capacity, catalytic activity, mechanical robustness, and antibacterial effects. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the latest advancements in NMs-enhanced membranes, focusing on different types of NMs, incorporation strategies, and associated challenges. Additionally, it examines the impact of NMs on microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, assessing improvements in surface morphology, physicochemical properties, and overall filtration performance. By critically evaluating the benefits and limitations of these hybrid systems, this study highlights their potential to revolutionize water treatment through sustainable and cost-effective solutions. Finally, future perspectives and research directions are discussed to further advance this innovative approach in addressing global water quality challenges.