Membranes– future for sustainable gas and liquid separation?

Abstract

Today, chemical engineers seek innovative and emerging technologies for the improved separation of liquids and gases in different fields of chemistry, foods, biotechnology, environmental-related areas, among others. These potential technologies must meet the key requirements of selective separation as well as overcome the main constraints of typical separation methods. In addition to this, such emerging technologies should also meet the key principles of “green chemistry”, aimed at preserving the environment while utilizing eco-friendly feedstocks and processes. In this sense, membrane technologies, which use a perm selective physical interface (so-called membrane), have been investigated as promising separation techniques over the last decades. The membrane, as the key element for the separation, has been the main scope of study in membrane science and technology over recent years. Depending on the membrane process, the membrane can synergistically offer both productivity (in terms of permeability) and selectivity towards specific liquid and gas phases. This graphical review timely brings a short but concise overview of the current role of specific membrane technologies (ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, pervaporation, membrane distillation and membrane gas separation) in various fields according to their advantages, as well as their applicability. Lately, the ongoing progress and future trends in each membrane technology will be given.