Influence of membrane structure and chemical characteristics on separation and fouling of nanofiltration membranes

Nanofiltration membranes act an important role in the advanced water treatment as well as waste water reclamation and other industrial separations. Therefore, an understanding of the factors affecting NF separation and membrane fouling in high-pressure membrane systems is needed. Recent studies have shown that membrane surface morphology and structure as well as surface chemical characteristics influence permeability, rejection, and fouling behavior of nanofiltration (NF) membranes. A comprehensive literature review is reported, targeting the physical-chemical characteristics of NF membrane affecting separation and fouling, including pore size, porosity, surface morphology (measured as roughness), surface charge, and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity.