Abstract
Seawater desalination by utilizing a membrane-based technology is a crucial step to overcome the freshwater shortage in some regions of the world. However, the durability and performance of membranes rely on the type of fillers and materials utilized for the fabrication of the membrane. Since low-cost cellulose or its derivatives have been extensively used for the development of membranes in the last few years, so this review article has been focused on the exploration of the endeavours made by scientists for the development and improvement of biocompatible membranes utilizing distinctive cellulose-based materials. In particular, cellulosic materials such as the cellulose nanofibres, cellulose nanocrystals, bacterial nano cellulose and diverse cellulose derivatives exhibit different properties and structures, but all of these have been found to enhance the porosity, pore size, hydrophilic character and thus ultimately salt-removal capability and water permeability of the membrane. In this article, we have also analysed, the impact of chemical functionalization or loading of inorganic fillers onto the performance of cellulosic membranes utilized in different technologies such as reverse osmosis, forward osmosis, solar desalination, etc. The economic empowerment of cellulosic membranes not just relies on the fabrication steps, yet additionally on their potential in water desalination.
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•Different cellulosic materials which have been utilized in membrane fabrication.•Review on development and performance of cellulose based membranes in desalination•Role played by cellulosic membranes in different water desalination technologies.•Cellulose membranes role in nanofilteration, membrane distillation, etc. [Display omitted]