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On the other hand, traditional oil refining processes are also very energy-intensive. For example, thermal distillation systems used to separate the various components of oil account for a significant share of global energy consumption. In such circumstances, using membrane technology can be an efficient solution to reduce energy consum  MSTF Media reports:
Pollution of water resources in industrial areas has become one of the serious environmental challenges in the world today. In many areas, rivers that once used to flow with clear water are now exposed to a variety of industrial pollutants.
The passage of industrial wastewater, oils, and chemicals past these water sources has caused the water surface to be covered with layers of grease and pollution. In such circumstances, restoring water quality has become one of the major concerns of researchers; a concern whose answer is sought in one of the most advanced technologies in the field of water purification, i.e., nano-membrane technology.
Nanomembranes:Filters at the Nanoscale
At first glance, membranes have a simple structure. They are analogous tovery fine filters that allowcertain substances to pass through while retaining others. But when this structure reaches the nanoscale, the dimensions of its pores become so small that even extremelytiny molecules cannot pass through it.
At the nanoscale, particles are about one billionth of a meter in size. This extremely small scale allows for precise separation of various substances from water. Nanomembranes are very thin and porous layers that allow water molecules to pass through them with high precision while preventing the passage of pollutants.
In membrane technologies, several main processes are used to separate substances from water, depending on the pore size and type of membrane structure. The first stage is microfiltration, which is used to remove relatively large particles such as mud, bacteria, and large oil droplets.
The next step is ultrafiltration, which is capable of separating smaller molecules such as proteins, pigments, and some soluble organic compounds. A more advanced step of this technology is nanofiltration, which is used to remove ions and very small molecules, including polyvalent salts.
Finally, there is the most advanced stage, reverse osmosis, which is capable of separating even monovalent ions, such as table salt, from water with an efficiency of more than 99%. In other words, the smaller the pores of the membrane, the greater its ability to separate finer particles. For this reason, membranes act like extremely precise filters that keep contaminants behind and allow clean water to pass through.
How Nanomembranes Remove Oil and Industrial Pollutants
A notable application of this technology is in dealing with oily wastewater, a type of pollution that is especially common in industrial areas. Oils can enter water sources from factories, refineries, industrial workshops, large kitchens, and even automobiles.
These oils sometimes combine with suspended particles in water and remain as very fine emulsions in the water. In such a case, the oil droplets are so small that they cannot be seen with the eye and cannot be separated from the water by common methods such as sedimentation.
In the past, chemical methods were mostly used to remove this type of contamination. These methods involvedadding special chemicals to the water to make the oils stick to each other and settle in the form of larger particles. Nonetheless, these methods were not always effective and in some cases even caused secondary pollution in the environment.
On the other hand, nanomembranes,due to their intricate structure, can effectively separate oil and water emulsions. Research results have shown that some ultrafiltration membranes are capable of removing up to 95% of oils and nearly 90% of chemical compounds and heavy metals from wastewater, without the need to add chemicals and with less energy consumption than traditional methods.
Overcoming Membrane Fouling with Nanotechnology
Membrane technology presents certain challenges. A major problem in these systems is a phenomenon called membrane fouling, a process in which pollutant particles accumulate on the surface or in the pores of a membrane over time and block the water passage. As a result, water flow slows down and the system's performance drops. Under such conditions, the system needs to be shut down for the membrane to be cleaned or replaced, a process that has its own costs.
To address this problem, researchers have used nanotechnology to modify the surface of membranes. One common solution is to coat the membrane surface with nanoparticles such as titanium dioxide or silica. These materials can impart hydrophilic or lipophilic properties to the membrane surface.As a result, oils and other contaminants are less likely to stick to the membrane surface, reducing the likelihood of clogging. 
In some advanced designs, membranes have even been developed that can break down contaminants on their surface when exposed to ultraviolet light. These so-called "self-cleaning" membranes can clean some of their contaminants without the need to stop the system and have a longer lifespan.
From Saltwater to Freshwater: The Promise of Nanomembranes for Future Water Supplies
Another remarkable application of nano-membranes is in the area of seawater desalination. In many arid regions in the world with water scarcity, access to freshwater resources is limited, while a huge volume of saltwater is available from the seas. Converting this salty water into usable water has been of interest to scientists for years, and desalination technology has provided a majorsolution for providing water in these areas.
Among the various desalination methods, one of the most effective is the reverse osmosis method. In this process, salt water is passed through a semi-permeable membrane at high pressure. This membrane acts like a highly selective gate, allowing only water molecules to pass through, while salt ions, heavy metals, and other impurities remain behind. The result of this process is almost pure water that can be used for various municipal, industrial, or even drinking purposes.
Despite the high efficiency of this method, reverse osmosis systems also come with problems. The high pressure required to pass water through the membrane, the deposition of salts on the membrane surface, and the accumulation of contaminants are among the challenges that can reduce the performance of these systems. This is where nanomembranes come into play.
Advanced nanostructures can increase water permeability while enhancing the membrane's resistance to fouling. These features allow desalination systems to operate with less energy consumption and a longer lifespan.
In recent years, researchers have been exploring the use of advanced materials such as graphene in the construction of new membranes. Graphene is an extremely thin yet incredibly strong material that can allow water molecules to pass through more quickly, while effectively blocking ions and pollutants.
Such technologies could reduce the cost of seawater desalination in the future and make it possible to provide freshwater to larger populations. This technology can also be used in the purification of inland saline water, recycling of industrial wastewater, and even providing water in critical situations such as droughts or natural disasters.
Application of advanced membranes in the oil and gas industry
In addition to water and wastewater treatment, membrane technology is also of great significance in oil and gas industries. Contrary to popular belief, a significant portion of the liquid extracted from oil wells is not oil but water. In many oilfields, for each barrel of crude oil,about ten barrels of contaminated water are also extracted.
This water usually contains abundant salts, hydrocarbon compounds, heavy metals, and various chemicals. If this huge volume of water enters the environmption and improve water management in this industry.
Advanced membranes are able to purify petroleum wastewater and enable water recycling and reuse. New research also shows that using new polymers in the manufacture of membranes can allow for the separation of complex hydrocarbon mixtures at lower pressure and lower energy consumption than traditional methods. Such advances, if industrialized, could help reduce energy consumption in refineries as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The role of researchers in the development of polymer membrane technology
Among the researchers active in this field, Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, a professor at the University of Technology Malaysia and one of the threeMustafa^(pbuh) Prizelaureatesfrom Islamic countries in 2023, is considered one of the well-known figures in the development of polymer membrane technology.
Ismail’s research focuses on optimizing the surface properties of membranes and designing nanostructures that are more resistant to fouling. The results of his research show that by modifying the structure of polymers, membranes can be produced that, in addition to being highly efficient in purifying industrial and saline water, are also economically viable for use on an industrial scale.
Recent advances in nanomembrane technology show that it could play a key role in the future of water resource management.Although challenges such as production cost, long-term durability, and membrane fouling issues continue to be of concern to researchers, the high capacity of this technology proves promising for providing clean water.
In fact, what once seemed like a dirty, polluted river can now, through knowledge and innovation, become a clear stream again, demonstrating how modern technologies are capable of extracting usable water from even the most polluted sewage and saltiest seawater.