Emerging trends in fouling mitigation for membrane distillation and pervaporation: Implications for desalination and wastewater treatment

Thermally driven membrane separation processes, such as membrane distillation (MD) and pervaporation (PV), are emerging technologies for desalination and water treatment applications. While both processes offer high separation efficiency and water productivity, their practical applications are often hindered by membrane fouling. In particular, the accumulation of organic foulants on membrane surfaces, resulting from specific interactions between the foulants and the membrane, poses a persistent challenge. This review provides a critical comparison of the fouling mechanisms observed in hydrophobic, porous MD membranes versus hydrophilic, non-porous PV membranes. It further examines recent advancements in membrane material development, including novel membrane designs, surface modifications, and patterning strategies aimed at mitigating organic fouling in both systems. Key challenges and future research directions are also discussed, with a focus on the development of advanced membrane materials and innovative pretreatment and cleaning strategies to enhance the viability of thermally driven membrane technologies in real-world applications.