State-of-the-Art Advances and Current Applications of Gel-Based Membranes
Camelia Ungureanu,
Silviu Răileanu,
Roxana Zgârian,
Grațiela Tihan,
Cristian Burnei
Affiliations
Camelia Ungureanu
Department of General Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, The National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Gheorghe Polizu 1-7 Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Silviu Răileanu
Department of Automation and Industrial Informatics, Faculty of Automatic Control and Computer Science, The National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Splaiul Independenţei 313 Street, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Roxana Zgârian
Department of General Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, The National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Gheorghe Polizu 1-7 Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Grațiela Tihan
Department of General Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, The National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Gheorghe Polizu 1-7 Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Cristian Burnei
Clinical Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology II, Clinical Emergency Hospital, Calea Floreasca 8, 014461 Bucharest, Romania
Gel-based membranes, a fusion of polymer networks and liquid components, have emerged as versatile tools in a variety of technological domains thanks to their unique structural and functional attributes. Historically rooted in basic filtration tasks, recent advancements in synthetic strategies have increased the mechanical strength, selectivity, and longevity of these membranes. This review summarizes their evolution, emphasizing breakthroughs that have positioned them at the forefront of cutting-edge applications. They have the potential for desalination and pollutant removal in water treatment processes, delivering efficiency that often surpasses conventional counterparts. The biomedical field has embraced them for drug delivery and tissue engineering, capitalizing on their biocompatibility and tunable properties. Additionally, their pivotal role in energy storage as gel electrolytes in batteries and fuel cells underscores their adaptability. However, despite monumental progress in gel-based membrane research, challenges persist, particularly in scalability and long-term stability. This synthesis provides an overview of the state-of-the-art applications of gel-based membranes and discusses potential strategies to overcome current limitations, laying the foundation for future innovations in this dynamic field.
