Polymer/Carbon Nanotubes Mixed Matrix Membranes for Water Purification

Over the last few decades, a shortage of water resources in many regions and an increasing trend of water prices are critical matters for using a sustainable water purification process such as a membrane. Besides, using membrane-based water purification has been significantly investigated because of its fascinating technical advantages, separation efficiency, and practicable operating costs. To improve the separation features of the membranes, such as permeability, selectivity, and antifouling characteristics, one must use an appropriate nanoscale material, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), to modify the polymeric membranes and to fabricate mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). This is because of CNTs' unique properties, such as low mass density, high flexibility, a large ratio of length to diameter, and the existence of substantial nanochannels. In this chapter, the application of CNTs in water purification, the synthesis and functionalization of CNTs, the water transport mechanism through CNTs, the fabrication of CNT-embedded MMMs, and more details on the status of the CNT-based membranes in the water purification market and its current challenges are comprehensively discussed.