Progress in Desalination Composite Membranes: Perspectives and Research Gaps

The research community seeks new techniques and strategies for producing fresh water to overcome the scarcity of drinking water, in which the first alternative deals with removing salt ions and other trace compounds from brackish water and seawater due to its large availability. Membrane technologies, such as nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, membrane distillation, and pervaporation, are likely to be potential tools for selectively removing salt ions from seawater. Today, researchers are working to manufacture more selective, scalable, and productive desalination membranes. Therefore, this review reveals the most recent composite membranes applied in different membrane processes and their outcomes in seawater desalination over the last 5 years (from 2020 until now). Apart from reporting the most relevant membrane concepts, the mechanisms of transport and separation are reviewed in association with the unprecedented membrane separation properties. Finally, the current challenges and future directions are briefly provided for the development of next-generation composite desalination membranes.