Strategies for improving the fouling resistance and stability of super-wettable metal mesh membranes: A review

[Display omitted] •Overview of mechanisms of oil–water separation by metal mesh membrane.•Review of pore size, wettability, etc. on membrane fouling prevention and cleaning.•Focus on rough structures and chemical composition to improve membrane stability.•Discussion of future research on Janus smart materials. Super-wettable metal mesh membranes are subject to decreased fouling resistance owing to extended operating times, increased filtration times, and decreased stability caused by harsh conditions such as strong acids, strong bases, and high salt concentrations. Hence, enhancing fouling resistance and stability is essential for their use in practical industrial applications. This review focuses on tuning strategies and modification methods for enhancing the fouling resistance and stability of metal mesh membranes. It also proposes strategies for preventing membrane fouling, including the selection of a suitable membrane pore size, construction of hydrophilic membranes, regulation of surface charge, and removal of surfactants. It then summarizes fouling-membrane cleaning methods of physical cleaning, chemical cleaning, and the control of operating conditions. Finally, this review discusses future research on Janus smart materials to enhance the fouling resistance and stability of metal mesh membranes, thereby providing a feasible basis for the modification of super-wettable metal mesh membranes with high fouling resistance and stability.