Biorenewable Nanocomposite Materials in Membrane Separations

Owing to the toxic nature of petroleum-based resources as well as the waste accumulation, long degradation time, usage of harsh chemicals associated with these resources, and limited availability, there is a great demand for suitable ecofriendly alternatives. Research on the development of new composite materials using biorenewable and sustainable resources has garnered profound interest because of their low carbon footprint, ecofriendliness, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and green and sustainable nature. The academic and industrial sectors have already started exploring biorenewable materials and nanotechnology to meet the 17 sustainability goals set by the United Nations. Composite materials comprise a mixture of polymer matrices and reinforcement materials. Because of their ease of fabrication, mechanical strength, thermal stability, antifouling properties, hydrophilicity, and porosity, composite materials have been explored in the development of new techniques and materials. Nanocomposites are widely used to enhance the hydrophilicity, surface charges, and antiadhesive, antifouling, and separation performances of the nanocomposite membranes. However, the lack of a homogeneous dispersion and compatibility with the polymer matrix during synthesis appear to hinder their effective fabrication, thereby limiting the potential of nanocomposite materials in the separation performance of nanocomposite membranes. To alleviate such shortcomings, several routes have been employed for fabricating nanocomposite membranes, which are explained in this book. Furthermore, to understand the performance of nanocomposite membranes, we reviewed the related chemistry, new applications, and developments with respect to the separation performance of biorenewable nanocomposite membranes.