Membraneja

Membraneja is a term used in materials science and engineering to describe membrane-based systems designed to control the transport of substances across interfaces. The term can refer to natural biological membranes, synthetic polymeric and ceramic membranes, and composite architectures that combine multiple materials to achieve specific selectivities and fluxes.

Typical membraneja consist of a selective layer supported by a porous substrate. The selective layer may be a polymer, ceramic, or hybrid material and is often only nanometers to micrometers thick. Advanced membraneja incorporate functionalized surfaces, nano- or micro-structured pores, and embedded particles such as nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes to tune permeability and fouling resistance.

Transport through membraneja is governed by mechanisms including size exclusion, solution-diffusion, charge interactions, and facilitated transport. Selectivity depends on pore size distribution, chemical affinity, and the balance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions. Fouling, aging, and chemical degradation can reduce performance over time.

Manufacturing methods include phase inversion, interfacial polymerization, electrospinning, and layer-by-layer assembly. Design strategies focus on improving selectivity for a target solute, increasing total flux, reducing fouling, and enhancing chemical and mechanical stability. Trade-offs between permeability and selectivity are a common consideration, often bounded by material constraints.

Membraneja have broad applications in water treatment, desalination, gas separation, and biomedical devices such as dialysis membranes. Other uses include sensors, microfluidics, and energy devices where membranes serve as separators or functional interfaces. Ongoing challenges include fouling, chemical compatibility, long-term stability, and cost-effective scale-up.