The characteristics of membrane separation technology: Membrane separation is a highly efficient and environmentally friendly separation process. It is a high-tech interdisciplinary field, exhibiting diverse physical, chemical, and biological properties, and possessing numerous advantages. Membranes are materials with selective separation capabilities. The process of separating, purifying, and concentrating different components of a feed solution using the selective separation capabilities of membranes is called membrane separation. It differs from traditional filtration in that membranes can perform separation at the molecular level, and this process is a physical process that does not require phase changes or the addition of additives.
The pore size of membranes is generally in the micrometer range. Based on their pore size (or molecular weight cutoff), membranes can be classified into microfiltration membranes, ultrafiltration membranes, nanofiltration membranes, and reverse osmosis membranes. Based on the material, they can be classified into inorganic membranes and organic membranes. Inorganic membranes are mainly ceramic and metal membranes, which have lower filtration precision and less selectivity. Organic membranes are made of polymeric materials, such as cellulose acetate, aromatic polyamides, polyethersulfone, and polyfluoropolymers, etc.
