Abstract
Recent progresses in inorganic membranes used for water treatment in reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) are reviewed. Inorganic membranes, which show robust properties, can be used in harsh conditions such as high temperatures, chlorine–containing and acidic solutions. In this review, robust properties required for use in RO/NF are proposed, and then, inorganic RO/NF membranes, including zeolite, sol–gel derived organosilica, carbon- based materials (carbon nanotube, graphene oxide), and CVD–derived silica, are summarized. In addition, possible applications, including reverse osmosis at high temperatures, acid recovery in acid/metal mixture, and chlorine tolerance are introduced.
