Nanocellulose-Enabled Membranes for Water Purification: Perspectives

Membrane technology remains the most energy-efficient process for removing contaminants (micrometer-size particles to angstrom-size hydrated ions) from water. However, the current membrane technology, involving relatively expensive synthetic materials, is often nonsustainable for the poorest communities in the society. In this article, perspectives are provided on the emerging nanocellulose-enabled membrane technology based on nanoscale cellulose fibers that can be extracted from almost any biomass. It is conceivable that nanocellulose membranes developed from inexpensive, abundant, and sustainable resources (such as agriculture residues and underutilized biomass waste) can lower the cost of membrane separation, as these membranes offer the ability to remove a range of pollutants in one step, via size exclusion and/or adsorption. The nanocellulose-enabled membrane technology not only may be suitable for tackling global drinking water challenges, but it can also provide a new low-cost platform for various pressure-driven filtration techniques, such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis. Some relevant parameters that can control the filtration performance of nanocellulose-enabled membranes are comprehensively discussed. A short review of the current state of development for nanocellulose membranes is also provided.