Innovative membranes for water treatment and industrial separations

Among available technologies, MBRs are highly promising, but membrane fouling and biofouling remain critical challenges. Traditional mitigation strategies (e.g., increased aeration, chemical cleaning) involve high costs or environmental impacts. A more sustainable approach is to design membranes with “built-in” anti-fouling properties. WembraneX addresses this challenge with SAFTEK, a new class of nanostructured membranes featuring a proprietary coating based on polymerizable bicontinuous microemulsions. This coating is applied to commercial ultrafiltration membranes and polymerized in situ, ensuring high stability. The developed formulation includes AUTEAB, a novel cationic surfactant that provides both hydrophilicity and antimicrobial properties