ABSTRACT
Membrane separation has replaced traditional technologies in desalination and water treatment due to reliability, low operating and maintenance costs, and wide applicability. Monitoring and maintaining continuous membrane performance is essential in any industrial process. Devising appropriate control strategies to tackle fouling and related challenges in membrane processes requires accurate and reliable monitoring. This chapter explores standard industrial practices and recent developments in monitoring membrane integrity and detecting fouling and related phenomena in various separation processes. We also overview the use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as a powerful non-invasive tool for in situ characterization of fouling, while recognizing material-based challenges that prevent optimal module design. The chapter also explores the current status of membrane cleaning and fouling mitigation strategies.
