Emerging nanoenhanced membrane-based hybrid processes for complex industrial wastewater treatment

Abstract Although water is the drive for socioeconomic development and a need for human survival and maintenance of healthy ecosystems, its pollution by industrial waste effluents remains a threat to life and the environment, and thus requires critical attention. Conventional wastewater treatment processes still face challenges relating to their complexity, operational costs, and efficiency. The use of advanced membrane water treatment processes is being investigated and piloted in various parts of the world and the advancements made have been reviewed in this chapter. Membranes are a promising solution, but their performance is affected by fouling, leading to reduction in rate and quality of recovered water. Similarly, the need for regular change or cleaning of membrane bioreactors is costly. Among these reasons, novel nanoenhanced membrane-based hybrid processes have emerged as alternative solution to treatment of complex industrial wastewaters. These hybrid systems are comprehensively and yet concisely presented in this chapter.