Structure–Performance Relationships in Nanofiltration Membranes: From Molecular Architecture to Intelligent Membrane Systems

Authors

  • Zakawat Ali Beijing Key Laboratory to Solid State Battery and Energy Storage Process, State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China Author
  • Toyese Oyegoke CAD Engineering of Processes and Reactive Interfaces (CEPRIs) Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru Campus, Zaria 810106, Nigeria Author
  • Fahad Mir Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, University Technology Malaysia (UTM), 81310 Johor Bahru Skudai, Malaysia Author
  • Auwal Bello Department of Material Science and Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), West Java 40132, Indonesia. Author
  • Abdul Sami Department of Chemical Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan Author
  • Mehtab Ali Darban Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia Author
  • Syeda Irsa Mazhar Kazmi School of Interdisciplinary Engineering and Sciences (SINES), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan Author
  • Ghulam Muhammad Chemical Engineering Program, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University Kagamiyama 1-4-1, Higashi-hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan Author
  • Shivam Srivastava Department of Civil Engineering, Buddha Institute of Technology, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India Author
  • Abdulladif Muhammad Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Mewar University, NH-48, Gangrar, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan-312901, India. Author
  • Adel Zrelli Research Unit Advanced Materials, Applied Mechanics, Innovative Processes and Environment, UR22ES04, Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Gabes (ISSAT), University of Gabes, Gabes, Tunisia Author
  • Hafsa Jamshaid Alam Department of Chemical Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan Author
  • Ibnu Tryansar Purba Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, 57126, Indonesia Author
  • Muhammad Ali Khan Faculty of Mechanical & Automotive Engineering, University of Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26600, Pahang, Pekan, Malaysia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66173/jenmas.2026.166

Keywords:

Nanofiltration membranes, Structure–performance relationships, Thin-film nanocomposite membranes, Membrane fouling, Artificial intelligence, Lifecycle assessment, Sustainable separations, Multiscale modelling

Abstract

Nanofiltration (NF) has become an indispensable platform for sustainable separations, yet its continued advancement is constrained by persistent trade-offs between permeability and selectivity, limited solute-solute discrimination, fouling susceptibility, and poor long-term stability under aggressive operating conditions. Despite rapid progress across polyamide chemistry, nanomaterial incorporation, and process modelling, the field remains fragmented, with insights confined to isolated material classes, fabrication routes, or applications, and lacking a unifying framework that connects molecular design to system-level performance. This review addresses that gap by establishing a coherent, multiscale structure–performance framework that traces a continuous mechanistic thread from molecular architecture to industrial module. We first critically examine the molecular-scale design of polyamide selective layers, questioning whether it genuinely reshapes membrane structure and introduces functional engineered nanoscale transport pathways. We then analyse morphology-performance correlations, advanced multiscale predictive modelling, and the rapidly emerging role of artificial intelligence and data-driven design in accelerating membrane discovery and optimization. Beyond material performance, we critically appraise fouling mechanisms and antifouling strategies, sustainability through life-cycle and techno-economic assessment, and the frequently underappreciated lab-to-module performance gap that governs real-world deployment. Throughout, we interrogate conflicting findings, reproducibility and scalability limitations, and the economic and environmental barriers that separate laboratory achievements from industrial reality. By integrating these traditionally siloed domains within a single critical synthesis, this review consolidates fragmented knowledge, identifies the most consequential research gaps, and articulates a scientific roadmap toward highly selective, energy-efficient, and industrially viable NF systems for global water security and sustainable resource recovery.

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2026-07-01

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Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026)

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Copyright (c) 2026 Zakawat Ali, Toyese Oyegoke, Fahad Mir, Auwal Bello, Abdul Sami, Mehtab Ali Darban, Syeda Irsa Mazhar Kazmi, Ghulam Muhammad, Shivam Srivastava, Abdulladif Muhammad, Adel Zrelli, Hafsa Jamshaid Alam, Ibnu Tryansar Purba, Muhammad Ali Khan (Author)

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How to Cite

[1]
Z. Ali, “Structure–Performance Relationships in Nanofiltration Membranes: From Molecular Architecture to Intelligent Membrane Systems”, JENMAS, vol. 2, no. 2, Jul. 2026, doi: 10.66173/jenmas.2026.166.