A critical review and commentary on recent progress of additive manufacturing and its impact on membrane technology

Membrane separations has been increasingly recognized as a key technology platform for improving the energy efficiency of many processes. Likewise, additive manufacturing (AM), or 3-dimensional (3D) printing it is often called, rapidly emergent in industrial sectors. It become common to marry these two platforms take advantage nature 3D with increasing need membrane that adaptable needs. Conventional approaches, such casting, typically result thick membranes limit productivity and potentially waste material non-performing support layer. Interfacial polymerization (IP) offered new vision thin-film composite desalination membranes, yet was limited certain chemistries while exhibiting other drawbacks. Additive offers benefits over techniques including ability expand library materials can be processed also offering degree customization impossible conventional manufacturing. This review article evaluates an body literature on using make considers limitations opportunities enhance existing reach into industries. We provide perspective from leading experts see where there are use different science disciplines.