Recent advances in adsorptive membranes for removal of harmful cations

ABSTRACT Adsorptive membranes with filtration and adsorption functions are one of the best strategies to remove harmful cations from wastewater and drinking water. In view of adsorptive capacity and regeneration cost, the most promising application field of adsorption membrane is the production of drinking water at present. An overview is given about the research progress of adsorptive membranes for removing heavy metal ions from drinking water. The removal mechanism of adsorptive membranes is explained by a schematic representation of electrical double layer. The types of adsorptive membranes are summarized. Future research outlook regarding adsorptive membranes is also discussed in order to promote research and application in drinking water for adsorptive membranes. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48579. Different types of adsorptive membranes.