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Membrane Fouling and Antifouling Strategies for Water and Wastewater Treatment

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A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Membrane Applications for Water Treatment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 3581

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Dr. Hui Wang

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Ningbo Key Laboratory of Green Petrochemical Carbon Emission Reduction Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University, Ningbo 315201, China
Interests: water treatment; membrane fouling; anti-oil-fouling membrane; hollow fiber membrane; ultrafiltration; nanofiltration; covalent organic framework membrane; advanced oxidation process; catalytic oxidation; catalytic membrane

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past few decades, membrane technology has been extensively utilized in municipal and industrial water supply as well as wastewater treatment. However, membrane fouling continues to pose a significant challenge that limits operational efficiency, economic viability, and long-term stability. Membrane fouling can result in a reduction of membrane flux, an increase in transmembrane pressure differentials, elevated energy consumption during operation, and a decreased lifespan of the membranes. Consequently, these factors substantially escalate operational costs and environmental impacts. Currently, although various anti-fouling strategies have been implemented to mitigate membrane fouling and partially restore membrane performance, these approaches often exhibit limited effectiveness.

In this special issue, we cordially invite authors to submit original research and review papers on the topic of membrane fouling and antifouling strategies in water and wastewater treatment. The submission content may concern, but is not limited to, the following areas:

(1) theoretical and experimental investigations into the mechanisms underlying membrane fouling;

(2) strategies for controlling membrane fouling, including pretreatment technologies and antifouling membranes;

(3) characterization and detection techniques for membrane fouling;

(4) evaluation of membrane systems' performance and sustainability, such as predictions of membrane lifespan, assessments of operational efficiency, and economic analysis.

Dr. Hui Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

membranes for water treatment
membrane fouling
fouling mechanism
anti-fouling strategies
fouling characterization

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 2087 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Vibration Modes on CaSO₄ Scaling in Hollow-Fiber Membrane Distillation

by Youngkyu Park, Juyoung Andrea Lee, Song Lee, Yongjun Choi and Sangho Lee

Membranes 2026, 16(6), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes16060183 - 27 May 2026

Viewed by 301

Abstract

Membrane distillation (MD) is a promising technology for high-salinity water treatment, but scaling still remains a critical limitation to stable operation. This study introduces a novel approach by exploring vibration signal design as a control variable for scaling mitigation in hollow-fiber DCMD, shifting from the conventional treatment of vibration as a fixed-frequency mechanical input. The influence of different vibration modes, including fixed, random, and patterned (music-derived structured non-stationary excitation) vibrations, on CaSO₄ scaling in hollow-fiber direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) was systematically investigated. Bench-scale experiments were conducted using synthetic saline feed (35,000 mg/L NaCl and 2000 mg/L CaSO₄) under both outside-in and inside-out configurations. The results reveal that vibration modifies flux decline behavior by delaying the critical volume concentration factor (VCF_cr) and reducing post-critical scaling kinetics. In the outside-in mode, patterned vibration achieved the highest critical VCF (3.39) and lowest scale formation rate, indicating effective suppression of nucleation and crystal growth. In contrast, fixed-frequency vibration (100 Hz) was more effective in the inside-out mode, owing to resonance-induced amplification of vibration transmissibility (>140%), which enhanced local shear at the membrane surface. Spectral analysis shows that patterned vibration provides broadband and non-stationary excitation with multiple dominant frequencies, enabling continuous disruption of scaling processes, whereas random vibration lacks structured energy distribution. Furthermore, patterned vibration reduced energy consumption by 16–23% compared to fixed and random modes while maintaining comparable or superior fouling mitigation. These findings demonstrate that vibration pattern design, coupled with system resonance characteristics, is a key factor in optimizing MD performance and energy efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Fouling and Antifouling Strategies for Water and Wastewater Treatment)

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15 pages, 3888 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Organic Fouling Control and Energy-Saving Strategies in PVDF Hollow Fiber Membrane Ultrafiltration via Intermittent Micro–Nanobubble Aeration

by Zhaoyang Li, Xitong Wang, Nachael Mwanga, Jigao Fu, Weidong Gao and Jun Zhang

Membranes 2026, 16(6), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes16060182 - 25 May 2026

Viewed by 440

Abstract

Micro-nanobubbles (MNBs) aeration has been widely reported as an effective approach for membrane fouling mitigation. However, their optimal operation in polymeric hollow fiber membrane (HFM) systems remains unclear. In this study, the antifouling performance of MNB-assisted ultrafiltration was systematically investigated using a PVDF-HFM, with particular emphasis on release pressure and intermittent aeration strategy. Increasing the release pressure to 0.60 MPa produced smaller and more concentrated bubbles, significantly alleviating membrane fouling. A distinct intermittent-aeration window was observed, in which a 15 min interval achieved the best overall performance, with a rejection efficiency of 75% and a cleaning efficiency of 93%, approaching that of continuous aeration. Longer intervals resulted in rapid deterioration in fouling control, indicating insufficient bubble replenishment. Compared with continuous operation, the optimized intermittent mode maintained comparable membrane performance while reducing energy consumption by approximately 50%, demonstrating a clear advantage in energy efficiency. Importantly, the optimal intermittent interval for PVDF-HFM (15 min) differs from that reported for ceramic membranes (30 min), highlighting that the performance of intermittent MNB aeration is not universal but strongly dependent on membrane properties. This shift in optimal interval is attributed to differences in surface wettability, structural flexibility, and local hydrodynamic conditions, which collectively influence bubble retention, interfacial shielding, and foulant detachment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Fouling and Antifouling Strategies for Water and Wastewater Treatment)

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28 pages, 7907 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Evaluation of QQ Media Materials for MBR Applications: An Environmental Footprint Approach in Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants

by Semanur Korkusuz-Soylu, Rabia Ardic-Demirbilekli, Merve Yilmaz, Ismail Koyuncu and Borte Kose-Mutlu

Membranes 2026, 16(5), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes16050161 - 30 Apr 2026

Viewed by 599

Abstract

Urban wastewater treatment plants face increasing challenges in mitigating environmental impacts while achieving high treatment efficiency. This study explores the optimization of quorum-quenching (QQ) media materials for scalable membrane bioreactor (MBR) applications, focusing on their potential to reduce operational footprints and enhance sustainability. Six immobilization media were evaluated—sodium alginate (SA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) beads (P), magnetic beads (M), chitosan magnetic beads (CM), polymer-coated beads (PS), and flat media (SAP)—using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework. Key parameters, including porosity, mechanical strength, quorum-quenching activity, and durability in sludge, were quantitatively weighted according to their operational significance. SA demonstrated the most balanced performance, exhibiting superior durability and cost-effectiveness, whereas SAP showed potential in applications prioritizing high porosity and enhanced QQ activity. The incorporation of QQ media led to a significant reduction in membrane fouling, chemical consumption, and energy consumption in pilot-scale MBR systems. Ecological footprint assessment revealed a 15% reduction in indirect blue water footprints and a 20% decrease in Scope 2 carbon emissions, attributable to reduced operational energy demands. These findings highlight the efficacy of QQ media in improving MBR performance and advancing system-level sustainability. Overall, this study highlights the critical importance of material engineering and ecological footprint integration in the development of next-generation urban wastewater treatment technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Fouling and Antifouling Strategies for Water and Wastewater Treatment)

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16 pages, 2957 KB

Open AccessArticle

Carboxylated Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Copolymer: A Facile Route to Improve Ultrafiltration Membrane Properties for Aqueous Filtration

by Yani Jiang, Zihao Zhao, Xianbo Yu, Quangang Cheng, Shaoyu Zou, Yang Zeng, Qiang Huang, Ziran Zhu, Weiwei Zhu, Liping Zhu and Baoku Zhu

Membranes 2026, 16(4), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes16040121 - 30 Mar 2026

Viewed by 594

Abstract

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based ultrafiltration membranes play key roles in aqueous separation fields. However, the inherent hydrophobicity of PVDF always generates higher water permeation resistance and a greater fouling tendency in the filtration process. Different to the widely reported and widely used blending methods of increasing the hydrophilicity of PVDF membranes, the mass-produced hydrophilic PVDF copolymer is expected to be more efficient in producing high performance membranes. For this purpose, the present research offers a new and scalable approach to improving the hydrophilic properties of PVDF-based membranes through amphiphilic copolymers. Using 2-trifluoromethylacrylic acid (MAF) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP), carboxylated PVDF (PVHM) was synthesized following simple radical suspension copolymerization. Via a non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method, PVHM membranes were prepared and characterized. It was found that the PVHM membranes had enhanced hydrophilicity, permeability, fouling resistance, and alkali resistance compared with PVDF membranes. For the PVHM containing 8.3 wt% MAF, its membrane demonstrated superior static/dynamic fouling resistance to sodium alginate (FRR up to 99.1% for SA). Therefore, carboxylated PVDF polymers show potential for use in the industrial production of high-performance ultrafiltration membranes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Fouling and Antifouling Strategies for Water and Wastewater Treatment)

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23 pages, 6790 KB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Characterization of Microfiltration Membrane Fouling Using Optical Coherence Tomography with Optimized Image Analysis

by Song Lee, Hyongrak Cho, Yongjun Choi, Juyoung Andrea Lee and Sangho Lee

Membranes 2026, 16(2), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes16020050 - 26 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1120

Abstract

Membrane fouling reduces permeate flux and treatment efficiency, yet most diagnostic methods are destructive and require offline analysis. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) enables in situ, real-time visualization; however, quantitative image extraction of thin foulant layers is often limited by manual processing and subjective thresholding. Here, we develop a reproducible OCT image-analysis workflow that combines band-pass filtering, Gaussian smoothing, and unsharp masking with a dual-threshold subtraction strategy for automated fouling-layer segmentation. Seventeen global thresholding algorithms in ImageJ (289 threshold pairs) were benchmarked against SEM-measured cake thickness, identifying Triangle–Moments as the most robust combination. For humic-acid fouling, the OCT-derived endpoint thickness (14.23 ± 1.18 µm) closely agreed with SEM (15.29 ± 1.54 µm). The method was then applied to other microfiltration foulants, including kaolin and sodium alginate, to quantify thickness evolution alongside flux decline. OCT with the optimized image analysis captured rapid early deposition and revealed periods where flux loss continued despite minimal additional thickness growth, consistent with changes in layer permeability and compaction. The proposed framework advances OCT from qualitative visualization to quantitative, real-time fouling diagnostics and supports mechanistic interpretation and improved operational control of membrane systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Fouling and Antifouling Strategies for Water and Wastewater Treatment)

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