The utilization of chitin and chitosan as green modifiers in nanocomposite membrane for water treatment

Contaminants in water bodies degrade the water's quality and render it unsuitable for human consumption. When weighed against the environmental consequences associated with petroleum-derived polymers, biopolymers exhibit notable advantages over petroleum-based polymers in terms of cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness. By adding biopolymer during the membrane production process, more active sites were created in the membranes, increasing their ability to remediate water. This review paper offers a thorough analysis of the inclusion of chitin and chitosan biopolymers into nanocomposite membranes for water and wastewater treatment. An overview of the biopolymers chitin and chitosan is given, along with information on how they can be modified. The performance of the nanocomposite membranes for water remediation and their environmental consequences are examined in relation to the embedment of chitin and chitosan biopolymers. When compared to unmodified membranes, the chitin and chitosan modified membranes showed a notable improvement in water flux, salt rejection, and anti-fouling characteristics. This review has brought to the fore the contributions of incorporating chitin and chitosan to the development of novel nanocomposite membranes with enhanced water remediation capabilities.