Somrani Anissa, Abohelal Kholoud, Pontié Maxime
Physics Department, College of Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka P.O. Box 2014, Saudi Arabia.
Group of Analysis & Processes, Faculty of Sciences, University of Angers, CEDEX 01, 49045 Angers, France.
Membranes (Basel). 2025 Jul 21;15(7):217. doi: 10.3390/membranes15070217.
As sensitive parts of the water treatment process, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are the most important for desalination and wastewater treatment. But the performance of RO membranes deteriorates over time due to fouling, necessitating frequent replacements. One of the environmental challenges is the disposal of End-of-Life (EoL) RO membranes, which are made of non-biodegradable polymers. The reuse of EoL membranes as a sustainable approach for waste saving and resource efficiency has recently attracted considerable attention. The present work provides a comprehensive overview of the strategies for reusing EoL RO membranes as sustainable alternatives to conventional disposal methods. Furthermore, the fundamental principles of RO technology, the primary types and impacts of membrane fouling, and advanced cleaning and regeneration techniques are discussed. The conversion of EoL membranes into nanofiltration (NF), ultrafiltration (UF), and forward osmosis (FO) membranes is also covered in this review, as well as their uses in brackish water desalination, dye/salt separation, groundwater treatment, and household wastewater reuse. Environmental and economic benefits, as well as technical, social, and regulatory challenges, are also discussed. Finally, the review highlights innovative approaches and future directions for incorporating EoL membrane reuse into circular economy models, outlining its potential to improve sustainability and reduce operational costs in water treatment systems.
作为水处理过程中的敏感部件，反渗透（RO）膜对于海水淡化和废水处理最为重要。但由于污染，RO膜的性能会随着时间推移而下降，因此需要频繁更换。环境挑战之一是废弃反渗透（EoL）膜的处置，这些膜由不可生物降解的聚合物制成。最近，将废弃膜再利用作为一种节约废物和提高资源效率的可持续方法受到了相当多的关注。本工作全面概述了将废弃RO膜再利用作为传统处置方法的可持续替代方案的策略。此外，还讨论了RO技术的基本原理、膜污染的主要类型和影响，以及先进的清洗和再生技术。本综述还涵盖了将废弃膜转化为纳滤（NF）、超滤（UF）和正向渗透（FO）膜，以及它们在微咸水淡化、染料/盐分分离、地下水处理和家庭废水再利用中的应用。还讨论了环境和经济效益以及技术、社会和监管挑战。最后，本综述强调了将废弃膜再利用纳入循环经济模式的创新方法和未来方向，概述了其在提高水处理系统可持续性和降低运营成本方面的潜力。
