Fouling in reverse osmosis membranes: monitoring, characterization, mitigation strategies and future directions

Water scarcity has been a global challenge for many countries over the past decades, and as a result, reverse osmosis (RO) has emerged as a promising and cost-effective tool for water desalination and wastewater remediation. Currently, RO accounts for >65% of the worldwide desalination capacity; however, membrane fouling is a major issue in RO processes. Fouling reduces the membrane's lifespan and permeability, while also increases the operating pressure and chemical cleaning frequency. Overall, fouling reduces the quality and quantity of desalinated water, and thus hinders the sustainable application of RO membranes by disturbing its efficacy and economic aspects. Fouling arises from various physicochemical…