Green surface modification methods and coating techniques for polymer membranes

The surface modification and coating of polymer-based membranes have been widely employed for enhancing the membrane surface chemistry for water purification, organic solvent nanofiltration, and gas separation applications. However, recent environmental regulations necessitate the development of greener and more sustainable surface modification and coating approaches than the existing ones. In this chapter, the principles of the most commonly used surface modification and coating techniques—including chemical, irradiation, and other green surface modification methods—for polymer membranes are reviewed. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques are discussed in terms of their effectiveness, sustainability, cost, and ease of operation. Moreover, the surface characterization techniques commonly employed for green polymer membrane fabrication are presented to stimulate a comprehensive understanding of the features of this class of materials. Alternative methods for elucidating their microstructure, chemical properties, and topographical attributes are outlined in this chapter. The methods discussed herein can be adopted to identify, analyze, and predict the overall performance of polymer membranes.