Progress and challenges of carbon nanotube membrane in water treatment

ABSTRACT

The potential of the carbon nanotube (CNT) membrane has been highly strengthened in water treatment during the last decade. According to works published up to now, the unique and excellent characteristics of CNT outperformed conventional polymer membranes. Such achievements of CNT membranes are greatly dependent on their fabrication methods. Further, the intrinsic properties of CNT could be a critical factor of applicability to membrane processes. This article provides an explicit and systematic review of the progress of CNT membranes addressing the current epidemic—whether (i) the CNT membranes could tackle current challenges in the pressure- or thermally driven membrane processes and (ii) CNT hybrid nanocomposite as a new generation of materials could complement current CNT-enhanced membrane.

KEYWORDS:

• Carbon nanotube membrane
• membrane process
• nanocomposite membrane
• water treatment

Acknowledgments

J. LEE acknowledges Kapyong Commemorative Postgraduate Scholarship awarded by the Australian Government. The authors appreciate Dr Marie at the University of Sydney of her valuable comments on this article.

Funding

This research was supported by the Faculty of Engineering & Information Technologies, the University of Sydney, under the Faculty Research Cluster Program.