Hollow Fiber Nanofiltration Membranes for Water Treatment

Global drinking water crisis is a major driver behind the continued progress in the field of water treatment and water quality control. Separation by synthetic membranes is now well established as one of staple water treatment technologies capable of delivering high quality water. Nanofiltration (NF), in particular, occupies an important niche in the family of membrane separations as a key drinking water treatment method. Owing to its lower energy consumption, NF replaces reverse osmosis in applications such as water softening and removal of natural organic matter. This article describes hollow fiber nanofiltration (HF NF) membranes as applied to drinking water treatment. A brief introduction to the hollow fiber technology is followed by an overview of HF NF fabrication methods and examples of HF NF applications in water treatment. We conclude by discussing future prospects of this increasingly important type of membranes.