Membrane distillation for zero liquid discharge during treatment of wastewater from the industry of traditional Chinese medicine: a review

Zero liquid discharge after treatment of industrial wastewater is a major goal to avoid environmental pollution. For that, membrane distillation appears as an advanced technique to generate pure water and to concentrate recyclable matter. Here, we review membrane distillation with focus on the industry of the traditional Chinese medicine. Membrane distillation has been successfully applied to concentrate fruit juice and herbal bioactive compounds in food and medicine, and to manage brine from gas, oil and desalination industries. Membrane distillation holds many advantages including energy conservation and better rejection of bioactive compounds by comparison with distillation and reverse osmosis. The recent synthesis of superhydrophobic or omniphobic membranes, such as the Janus membrane, allows to decrease wetting and fouling.