NONWOVEN MEMBRANES FOR SEAWATER DESALINATION: STRUCTURAL DESIGN, FUNCTIONALIZATION STRATEGIES, AND SYSTEM- LEVEL PERFORMANCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63456/tsrj-2-1-37Keywords:
nonwoven material, seawater desalination, polymer composite, porous structure, surface functionalizationAbstract
Nonwoven materials, characterized by high porosity, tunable fiber architecture, robust mechanical strength, and versatile surface functionalizability, have emerged as highly promising platforms for next-generation seawater desalination. This review comprehensively examines the structural design strategies and performance-regulation mechanisms of nonwoven membranes across major desalination technologies, including reverse osmosis (RO), forward osmosis (FO), membrane distillation (MD), and solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SIE). Particular emphasis is placed on the synergistic influence of fiber diameter, orientation, porosity, and multilayer composite configurations in determining key performance metrics, including water flux, salt rejection, wetting resistance, antifouling behavior, and long-term operational stability. Furthermore, we summarize recent advances in nonwoven fabrication techniques, including melt blowing, electrospinning, and centrifugal spinning, and discuss their integration with emerging functionalization approaches such as plasma modification, nanoparticle and 2D-material incorporation, polymer blending, and sustainable bio-based materials. By aligning nonwoven material design with the physicochemical requirements of different desalination pathways, this review highlights the technological potential of nonwoven membranes to enable high-efficiency, low-carbon, and environmentally sustainable desalination systems.
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