Journal of Hebei University of Science and Technology (Feb 2024)
Research status and prospect of seawater desalination membrane distillation membrane
Abstract
Desalination technology, including thermal and membrane methods, holds great promise as a viable solution to alleviate the scarcity of freshwater resources. The membrane distillation technology, among various membrane separation technologies, exhibits remarkable potential for economic and sustainable freshwater production due to its low energy consumption and exceptional desalination capability. However, the performance of membrane distillation is significantly constrained by membrane fouling and temperature polarization, which severely impedes its large-scale implementation. Consequently, extensive research efforts have been devoted to membrane modification strategies aimed at enhancing fouling resistance and minimizing temperature polarization. Based on this foundation, the present study provides a concise overview of membrane fouling and temperature polarization, elucidating their detrimental impacts on the progress of membrane distillation. The present study provides an analysis of the current research status regarding the mitigation of membrane fouling through the development of specialized wettable surfaces and the reduction of temperature polarization via controlled heating. Furthermore, this work highlights the existing challenges faced by membrane distillation membranes. It is recommended that future research on membrane distillation membranes should focus on the following aspects: 1) Utilizing materials with high thermal conductivity and strong light absorption properties to fabricate membranes with limited field heating functionality and specialized wettable surfaces; 2) Developing a versatile membrane distillation system capable of accommodating feed liquids containing multiple pollutants; 3) Designing an integrated Janus membrane, incorporating a hydrophilic layer with high thermal conductivity and light absorption capabilities.
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