A critical insight and roadmap on high-performance graphene-based water remediation membranes

Water scarcity and the proliferation of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), such as pharmaceutical residues, and heavy metals or inorganic contaminants, require the development of advanced, low-cost, and high-efficiency purification technologies. Traditional wastewater treatments often fail to eliminate these contaminants, leading to the search for hybrid adsorption-membrane systems. This review explores recent progress in high-performance graphene-based adsorptive membranes, which integrate the superior separation capabilities of polymeric matrices with the excellent physicochemical properties of graphene and its derivatives, including graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). This work analyzes different membrane fabrication strategies, ranging from non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) and thermal induced phase separation (TIPS) to electrospinning and vacuum-assisted filtration, and their impact on membrane morphology and pollutant rejection efficiencies. Furthermore, the synergy between adsorption and light-driven processes, such as photocatalysis, is highlighted as a promising route for the mineralization of recalcitrant CECs. For successful up-scaling, this review addresses the transition from laboratory to industrial environments, focusing on scalable techniques such as roll-to-roll processing, spray-coating, and Mayer rod-coating combined with high-power UV reduction. Critical challenges are also explored, particularly the permeability/selectivity, fouling, and long-term stability. Finally, this work outlines future opportunities in responsive membranes and hierarchical architectures to achieve a sustainable green transition in global water remediation. Altogether, these insights provide a research-to-industry roadmap underscoring the potential of graphene-based membranes for water remediation and, therefore, to sustainable environmental management.