Ecologic improvement by membrane separation processes

In the present review several membrane applications in alleviating ecological stresses are discussed. A distinction is made between membrane-aided treatment of large-volume municipal effluents, on the one hand, and the treatment of various small-volume streams, contaminated with small amounts of highly toxic pollutants on the other. While the first category has in many cases reached the stage of commercial application, the second category of membrane processes is still in the research stage. Typical applications of membrane processes for ecological purposes are described, using specific ion separations by means of Supported Liquid Membranes (SLM).