Graphene-Based Membranes for Water and Wastewater Treatment: A Review

Increasing population and industrial growth, combined with climate change, led to global water problems. This review paper summarizes the next-generation hybrid graphene-based membrane materials that are used for water purification to meet global freshwater supplies. Graphene-based membrane materials are believed to be the advanced materials for the desalination process because of their atomic thickness and tunable functionalities. The effect of membrane fabrication techniques and operating conditions on the separation and membrane fouling mechanisms are discussed in depth. The present study discusses the development, advantages, and shortcomings of using hybrid graphene membranes compared to traditional polymeric membranes. To extend the applications of graphene membranes, more attention should be paid to the water permeability and membrane selectivity in long-term operation at conditions similar to those in the field for performance analysis. While literature reviews have mainly concerned the ability of graphene materials to adsorb water contaminants, there is very limited updated information related to its sieving properties. Moreover, the literature lacks a comparative discussion of graphene-based membranes with other hybrid membrane materials. Thus, a profound understanding of graphene-based membranes is much needed to unlock the potential for graphene materials. Also, research interest in the preparation of the hybrid graphene membrane is expected to be explored in the future.