Advanced Membranes and Membrane Technologies for Wastewater Treatment

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 May 2025 | Viewed by 4680

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Química Física, Instituto Universitario de Investigación del Agua, Cambio Climático y Sostenibilidad (IACYS), Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Interests: membrane separation processes; integration of membrane processes; water and wastewater treatment; process intensification

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing occurrence of a wide spectrum of pollutants (MPs) in water bodies has become a threat of high-concern to the environment and human health due to MPs’ stability, toxicity, and bioaccumulation potential in plants and animals. Most of the MPs found in the environment originate from household, service, and industrial activities in urban areas. As such, Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) should play a vital role as a barrier to prevent the widespread disposal of MPs in the environment. Among advanced water treatment methods, the application of processes based on membrane filtration in the purification of urban and industrial wastewater has increased considerably in recent years. These processes are considered an important alternative for a sustainable reclamation of wastewater, thus avoiding the discharge of pollutants into the environment. Membrane technology has been proven to offer effective solutions, given, among others, its applicability to pollutants of a very different nature, high selectivity, easy operation, simple equipment, non-extreme experimental conditions, and efficient use of energy.

In this Special Issue, authors are invited to submit original articles and reviews on the design, synthesis, and characterization of advanced membranes and membrane technologies for wastewater treatment applications. The use of membrane processes for the removal of pollutants of different origins and of a chemical nature is also welcome, including (but not limited to) the use of any type of membrane process (ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, polymeric inclusion membranes, membrane reactors, etc.); the design, improvement, application and combination of these processes; the use of membranes of different natures and preparations; the use of modified membranes; and the development of new mathematical models to describe the processes.

Prof. Dr. Juan L. Acero
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • membrane processes
  • advanced membrane processes
  • membrane modification and use
  • water and wastewater treatment
  • water reclamation
  • pollutants removal
  • modeling
  • design
  • improvement

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 7170 KiB  
Article
Application of Recycled Ultrafiltration Membranes in an Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor (aMBR): A Validation Study
by Laura Rodríguez-Sáez, Junkal Landaburu-Aguirre, Eloy García-Calvo and Serena Molina
Membranes 2024, 14(7), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes14070149 - 5 Jul 2024
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Abstract
A validation study using recycled ultrafiltration membranes (r-UF) on an aerobic membrane bioreactor (aMBR) was conducted for the first time. Four different polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were tested using synthetic urban wastewater (COD 0.4–0.5 g/L) during two experimental periods: (i) recycled ultrafiltration membrane (r-UF) [...] Read more.
A validation study using recycled ultrafiltration membranes (r-UF) on an aerobic membrane bioreactor (aMBR) was conducted for the first time. Four different polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were tested using synthetic urban wastewater (COD 0.4–0.5 g/L) during two experimental periods: (i) recycled ultrafiltration membrane (r-UF) and commercial UF membrane (molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) 150 kDa) (c-150 kDa); (ii) r-UF membrane modified by dip-coating using catechol (CA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) (mr-UF) and c-20 kDa membrane. Permeability, fouling behavior, and permeate quality were evaluated. Extensive membrane characterization was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Permeate quality for r-UF and mr-UF membranes was excellent and comparable to that obtained using commercial membranes under similar conditions. Additionally, r-UF and mr-UF membranes presented a steadier performance time. Additionally, r-UF membrane demonstrated less tendency to be fouled (Rf, m−1) r-UF 7.92 ± 0.57 × 1012; mr-UF 9.90 ± 0.14 × 1012, c-150 kDa 1.56 ± 0.07 × 1013 and c-20 kDa 1.25 ± 0.50 × 1013. The r-UF membrane showed an excellent antibiofouling character. Therefore, r-UF membranes can be successfully implemented for wastewater treatment in aMBR, being a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to commercial membranes that can contribute to overcome membrane fouling and membrane replacement issues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Membranes and Membrane Technologies for Wastewater Treatment)
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21 pages, 5914 KiB  
Article
Removal of Micropollutants in Water Reclamation by Membrane Filtration: Impact of Pretreatments and Adsorption
by Juan C. Aldana, Cristina Agudelo, Pedro M. Álvarez and Juan L. Acero
Membranes 2024, 14(7), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes14070146 - 27 Jun 2024
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Abstract
Organic micropollutants (OMPs) present in water and wastewater are in the spotlight because of their potentially harmful effects even at low concentrations and the difficulties of their elimination in urban wastewater treatment plants (UWWTPs). This study explores the impact of some membrane filtration [...] Read more.
Organic micropollutants (OMPs) present in water and wastewater are in the spotlight because of their potentially harmful effects even at low concentrations and the difficulties of their elimination in urban wastewater treatment plants (UWWTPs). This study explores the impact of some membrane filtration processes on the removal of a group of 11 OMPs with an eye on the effects of two pretreatments (i.e., coagulation and adsorption onto powdered activated carbon (PAC)) and the adsorption of OMPs onto the membranes on the overall removal. For this purpose, ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF) experiments were conducted with selected OMPs spiked in ultrapure water and secondary effluents from UWWTPs. It was observed that the adsorption of OMPs onto the membranes was influenced by the characteristics of the membranes, as well as the presence of effluent organic matter (EfOM). Since adsorption was the dominant mechanism for the rejection of OMPs by UF membranes, a study of the adsorption equilibrium of the micropollutants using UF membrane pieces as the adsorbent was conducted. The adsorption isotherms for the most hydrophobic OMPs fitted the Langmuir model. The efficiency of coagulation and powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption coupled with UF were also investigated. Both pretreatments alleviated membrane fouling and improved the rejection of organic and inorganic matter. The PAC pretreatment significantly improved the removal of OMPs in the combined PAC/UF process. The best options for achieving reclaimed water with satisfactory physicochemical quality, nearly devoid of OMPs and microorganisms, and suitable for diverse reuse purposes are either the NF treatment or the combination of PAC/UF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Membranes and Membrane Technologies for Wastewater Treatment)
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Review

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37 pages, 2845 KiB  
Review
Advancing Ceramic Membrane Technology for Sustainable Treatment of Mining Discharge: Challenges and Future Directions
by Seyedeh Laleh Dashtban Kenari, Saviz Mortazavi, Sanaz Mosadeghsedghi, Charbel Atallah and Konstantin Volchek
Membranes 2025, 15(4), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15040112 - 3 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Mining discharge, namely acid mine drainage (AMD), is a significant environmental issue due to mining activities and site-specific factors. These pose challenges in choosing and executing suitable treatment procedures that are both sustainable and effective. Ceramic membranes, with their durability, long lifespan, and [...] Read more.
Mining discharge, namely acid mine drainage (AMD), is a significant environmental issue due to mining activities and site-specific factors. These pose challenges in choosing and executing suitable treatment procedures that are both sustainable and effective. Ceramic membranes, with their durability, long lifespan, and ease of maintenance, are increasingly used in industrial wastewater treatment due to their superior features. This review provides an overview of current remediation techniques for mining effluents, focusing on the use of ceramic membrane technology. It examines pressure-driven ceramic membrane systems like microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and nanofiltration, as well as the potential of vacuum membrane distillation for mine drainage treatment. Research on ceramic membranes in the mining sector is limited due to challenges such as complex effluent composition, low membrane packing density, and poor ion separation efficiency. To assess their effectiveness, this review also considers studies conducted on simulated water. Future research should focus on enhancing capital costs, developing more effective membrane configurations, modifying membrane outer layers, evaluating the long-term stability of the membrane performance, and exploring water recycling during mineral processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Membranes and Membrane Technologies for Wastewater Treatment)
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