A review of seawater desalination with membrane distillation: material development and energy requirements

Abstract The importance of membrane technology development in our daily life cannot be overemphasized. Over the past decades, membrane technology has become very popular in providing potable water for mankind. However, old technologies (such as reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration) which are highly energy intensive are still very common in water treatment industries. In this review, the capability of low energy consumption membrane distillation (MD) technology is reviewed with emphasis on material development and energy requirement. We begin by reviewing the history of the MD process, configurations, module types, membrane materials, material fabrication methods, material properties, material modification techniques, application, and energy requirements. Factors which influence the performance of MD – both design and operating conditions – are then extensively discussed. Furthermore, we report desalination and wastewater treatment as the hottest areas of application where MD has gained significant interest. Membrane hydrophobicity and fouling resistance are identified as pivotal areas where improvement in MD performance is being sought. We then discuss various industries where MD is presently being applied. We conclude by highlighting the energy requirements of MD and identify solar energy as a renewable energy resource which could meet the energy requirement of MD technology. It is hoped that this review paper will foster interest in and provide insights on material development for membrane distillation application.