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Clean water scarcity is an escalating global concern, necessitating the development of innovative membrane technologies. This mini review explores the multifaceted realm of membrane technology, a field increasingly engaging researchers and academics. Polymeric membranes find application in diverse domains, spanning gas separation, packaging films, protective coatings, and crucially, water purification techniques like reverse osmosis and various filtration methods. This review predominantly focuses on pressure-driven membrane processes, a classification evolving in selectivity from nanofiltration to microfiltration. It further dissects these processes based on natural and synthetic polymeric membranes. Notably, this work delves into the pivotal role of polymeric membranes in heavy metal water purification, emphasizing the evolving landscape of membrane technologies. Three notable membrane types under scrutiny are Mixed Matrix Membranes, Thin Film Layer Membranes, and membranes incorporating polymer inclusions. Their versatility and applications in diverse sectors showcase the burgeoning potential of polymeric membranes. Furthermore, this review outlines the future applications of polymeric membranes, delineating their indispensable role in nanofiltration, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and complexation-enhanced ultrafiltration. The compelling attributes of reverse osmosis, forward osmosis, and pervaporation in advancing water purification are also expounded upon. The review culminates by providing an insight into the structural intricacies of polymeric membranes, shedding light on their diverse applications and their pivotal role in addressing the global water crisis. The dynamic and evolving landscape of membrane technology underscores the crucial need for continued research and innovation in this domain to tackle water pollution and scarcity effectively. As we venture further into the 21st century, the multifaceted applications of polymeric membranes are set to play an instrumental role in safeguarding our most precious resource—clean and sustainable water.

One of the most challenging aspects of environmental conservation is the treatment of dye wastewater. Thus, this mini-review discussed the issues and major advances in the application and performance assessment of the aerobic, anaerobic, anaerobic-aerobic, aerobic-anaerobic, and anoxic–aerobic REACT-operated SBR systems with regards to bio-decolorization and COD removal rates. In SBRs run in aerobic modes, it is possible to cultivate aerobic granular sludge for color removal. To be precise, SBR has a higher COD removal efficiency with a lower color removal efficiency. Under anaerobic conditions, lesser COD removal was observed for several dyes studied in this chapter. In an alternating anaerobic-aerobic SBR system, color removal tends to occur during the anaerobic phase, while the aerobic phase is required to further reduce the effluent COD concentration. However, molecular oxygen drastically reduced color removal in SBR during dye wastewater treatment. This chapter discusses the aerobic-SBR treatment process for dye removal. The discussion focused on dye wastewater treatment using aerobic granules, granular activated carbon, adsorbents, biocarrier white rot fungi, varying dye mixtures, dye concentrations and SBR operational parameters. Adsorbents, membranes, biocarriers, exported microbial cultures, and various operational conditions have also been used in sequential anaerobic/aerobic batch reactors to enhance system performance. This chapter assessed the different treatment mechanisms and dynamics and concluded that combining two treatment methods significantly yields better color, DOC, and BOD5 removal than a single biological or chemical treatment.