Nanocomposite and responsive membranes for water treatment

Membrane processes provide a highly flexible separation technique from desalination and toxic metals/organics removal to permeate water recycling and reuse. The integration of nanostructured materials in surfaces and pores brings additional benefits in terms of stimuli-responsive behaviour and catalytic properties. The incorporation of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles expands the applications of membranes further by the ability to degrade toxic organics at room temperature or to alter separation properties. This chapter presents membrane functionalisation and synthesis aspects, role of pH/temperature-responsive polymers and inorganic catalysts, etc. for numerous environmental applications in the field of polymeric membrane technology related to nanocomposite and nanostructured materials.