(568a) Bioinspired Antifouling Membranes for Sustainable Water Purification

One of the daunting challenges to the sustainability of modern society is an inadequate supply of clear water. Due to its energy-saving and cost-effective attributes, membrane technology has become an indispensable platform technology for water purification, including seawater and brackish water desalination as well as municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. However, membrane fouling, which arises from the nonspecific interactions between membrane surface and foulants, significantly impedes the efficient application of membrane technology. Preparing antifouling membranes is a fundamental strategy to cope with pervasive fouling problems from diverse varieties of foulants. In recent years, great advancements have been made both in membrane preparation techniques and in elucidating the antifouling mechanisms of membrane processes, spanning from ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis to forward osmosis. This presentation will first introduce the major foulants and principal mechanisms of membrane fouling, and then highlight the development, current status and future prospects of bioinspired antifouling membranes, including antifouling strategies, preparation techniques and common applications.