With continuing depletion of fresh water resources, focus has shifted more
toward water recovery, reuse, and recycling, which require an extension of
conventional wastewater treatment technologies. Downstream external factors
like stricter compliance requirements for wastewater discharge, rising tre
atment costs, and spatial constraints necessitate renewed investigation of
alternative technologies. Coupled with biological treatment processes, memb
rane technology has gained considerable attention due to its wide range of
applicability and the performance characteristics of membrane systems that
have been established by various investigations and innovations during the
last decade. This article summarizes research efforts and presents a review
of the how and why of their development and applications. The focus is on
appraising and comparing technologies on the basis of their relative merits
and demerits. Additional facts and figures, especially regarding process p
arameters and effluent quality, an used to evaluate primary findings on the
se technologies. Key factors such as loadings rates, retention time, cross-
flow velocities, membrane types, membrane fouling, and backwashing, etc. ar
e some of the aspects covered. Membrane applications in various aerobic and
anaerobic schemes are discussed at length. However, the emphasis is on the
use of membranes as a solid/liquid separator, a key in achieving desired e
ffluent quality. Further, technology development directions and possibiliti
es are also explored. The review concludes with an economic assessment of t
he technologies because one of the key technology selection criteria is fin
ancial viability.