Bio-inspired anti-fouling strategies for membrane-based separations

Abstract

Membrane-based filtration processes are attractive for industrial separation processes, because of energy-savings and cost-effectiveness. However, membrane fouling continues to be a major drawback. To overcome fouling and increase the efficacy of membrane separation processes, disruptive solutions can be found in nature. Nature-inspired chemical engineering (NICE) seeks to understand the fundamental mechanisms behind desired properties in natural systems and then applies these in practical applications where similar challenges need to be overcome, whilst considering all length scales. In this review, examples are provided where the systematic design methodology used in NICE is applied to decrease fouling and its effects on membrane-based filtration. Expanding the application of this framework will facilitate the identification and utilisation of common traits among highly efficient natural systems to propose innovative engineering solutions for water treatment. Beyond membrane separations, the NICE approach has already seen success in other areas, including electrocatalysts for H2 fuel cells, CO2 reduction, medical applications, and fluidized beds. We recommend increased modelling efforts to complement experimental work and to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms behind biological, non-fouling membranes, as well as other biological mechanisms relevant to water management, anti-fouling, and antimicrobial strategies. Additionally, we encourage making a clear distinction between biomimicry, bio-inspiration, and bio-integration, with guidelines and standardized nomenclature.

Graphical abstract: Bio-inspired anti-fouling strategies for membrane-based separations

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
30 Sep 2024
Accepted
04 Mar 2025
First published
11 Mar 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Commun., 2025, Advance Article

Bio-inspired anti-fouling strategies for membrane-based separations

A. F. Bernardes, Z. Meng, L. C. Campos and M. Coppens, Chem. Commun., 2025, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D4CC05149A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements