Nanoscale Materials in Water Purification

Nanoscale Materials in Water Purification

Micro and Nano Technologies
2019, Pages 333-359
Nanoscale Materials in Water Purification

Chapter 13 - Carbon Nanotubes for Advancing Separation Membranes

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813926-4.00018-5Get rights and content

Abstract

As one of the emerging class of carbon nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been extensively studied for their extraordinary water transport and sieving properties. However, some remaining challenges, such as the poor dispersity both in organic or aqueous solutions and the hardness in functionalization, still harnesses the full potential for them as a separation membrane body or a filler for water treatment and desalination. In this chapter, some of the latest notable approaches or achievements for the CNT-involved novel membrane materials are highlighted, starting from their modifications by either physical or chemical strategies. Based on the membrane structure and the location of nanomaterial, CNT membranes are classified into (1) CNT as separation body materials, (2) CNT-induced mixed matrix membranes, and (3) CNT-promoted barrier layer in thin-film composites (TFC). Challenges and future research directions in developing high-performance CNT-based membranes were also discussed. This chapter may guide the researchers and separation scientists to develop novel approaches for further designs and practical applications of membranes technologies in the field of water purification to eradicate freshwater crises in the near future.

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