Membrane Separation Technology : Past, Present, and Future

The scientific underpinnings of the membrane separation industry date back to the eighteenth century. However, commercial products appeared less than 50 years ago. In the intervening half century, the industry has blossomed and is poised for continued strong growth. The evolution of the industry to its current state is reviewed here. The important role of the Office of Saline Water in the development of the industry is highlighted along with early patent literature that describes the manufacture, design, and operation of membrane systems - these patents still provide the technological base for the industry. The state-of-the-art in material selection, membrane formation, and module design and characterization is summarized. Finally, emerging future directions are identified in select areas including gas separation, biotechnology, water and wastewater treatment, nanofiltration, and alternative energy applications.