Nanofiltration membrane technology is already widely applied for removal of dissolved salts from salty water, removal of micro pollutants, water softening, and wastewater treatment. Nanofiltration membranes selectively reject substances, which enables the removal of harmful pollutants and retention of nutrients present in water that are required for the normal functioning of the body. Nanofiltration (NF) membrane technology is widely applied for removal of dissolved salts (i.e., desalination) from salty (i.e., brackish) water, removal of micro pollutants (e.g., arsenic and cadmium), water softening (i.e., removal of calcium and magnesium ions) and wastewater treatment. It is expected that nanotechnology will contribute to improvements in membrane technology that will drive down the costs of desalination, which is currently a significant impediment to wider adoption of desalination technology.
Source materials for nanofilters include naturally occurring zeolites and attapulgite clays, which can now be manipulated on the nanoscale to allow for greater control over pore size of filter membranes. Researchers are also developing new classes of nanoporous polymeric materials that are more effective than conventional polymer filters. New filters and desalination devices that incorporate nanotechnology are already on the market, and new discoveries are being published practically every week and could soon result in even more efficient, effective, and cheaper filters.