ABSTRACT
Nanofiltration (NF) membranes have been around for some considerable time, originally starting out as ‘loose’ reverse osmosis membranes before being considered as a category in its own right. During that time, the materials used to create NF membranes have changed, from initial use of cellulosic membranes, to thin-film composite membranes predominately using polyamide selective layers. Much recent advances in the research of NF membranes are in the use of nanomaterials in NF fabrication. This can include membranes made entirely from assemblies of nanomaterials, or mixed matrix membranes where polymers matrices are infiltrated with nanomaterials to change the membrane performance parameters, including increasing permeability, adjusting selectivity and modifying fouling behaviour. In this chapter, we will discuss the different types of NF membranes, based on material types used, and review recent advances in NF material technology research.
