Membrane Distillation and Other Membrane-Related Applications for Water Cleaning and Desalination

Dear Colleagues,

Membrane distillation (MD) is a modern technology that is changing the way we obtain fresh water, overcoming the limitations of more commonly used and diffused separation processes. Membrane distillation was designed to convert seawater into drinking water, but it also has interesting applications in treating industrial wastewaters, which is an issue in terms of volumes and costs. Mainly, membrane distillation can allow for the substitution of or can be coupled to more conventional reverse osmosis technologies to perform water cleaning and desalination in the presence of a highly concentrated solution. Membrane distillation initially progressed slowly due to a lack of suitable membranes for MD applications; membrane wetting issues; high energy consumption compared to reverse osmosis; low flux rates; and limited research on the module’s design. However, recent and extensive research into various aspects of MD (the development of better membranes; the potential use of alternative energy sources; the resolution of fouling and other issues; the experimentation on different membrane configurations) has contributed to making MD a more attractive process. Additionally, new and stringent separation requirements driven by evolving regulations and emerging needs have emphasized the importance of this field. Consequently, there has been a notable “research boom” in different facets of MD over the past decade.

However, more work needs to be carried out to fulfill expectations. To address the existing challenges, the development of new and improved membranes; the exploration of novel materials; the enhanced design of modules; and overall advancements in engineering are essential for the broader industrial employment of this technology. Additionally, establishing clear protocols and comparison criteria for selecting the best materials and operational conditions, as well as accurate modeling for scalable implementation, is crucial. Significant multidisciplinary research efforts are also required to further advance this technology and facilitate its growth.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Applications of any type of membrane distillation and multi-effect membrane distillation;
• Novel membrane materials and fabrication techniques;
• Modeling of membrane distillation processes;
• Membrane fouling and mitigation strategies;
• Applications of membrane technology in desalination and wastewater cleaning;
• Case studies and practical implementations;
• Environmental and economic aspects of membrane water purification.

We welcome the submission of original research articles; comprehensive reviews; and insightful perspectives that show a deep understanding of the current trends and future directions in this topical area of study.

Dr. Simona Renda
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• membrane distillation
• desalination
• wastewater cleaning
• pollutants removal
• modeling
• novel materials
• innovative fabrication techniques