Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42454679›Full record

ReviewWater environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation2026

Advanced Bio-Membrane Technologies for Water Treatment: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Future Prospects-A Comprehensive Critical Review.

Mahmoud Shaban, Ashraf Morsy, Fatma Fadel, Ahmed H Abdel-Salam, Abdullah Akhdhar, Zarah Alqarni, Mahmoud H Ebeid, Lovert A William, Ahmed Morsy, M Abdelaty and 2 more

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Mahmoud ShabanDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2127-9448
Ashraf MorsyPetrochemicals Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1142-0070
Fatma FadelChemical Engineering Department, Egypt Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), Alexandria, Egypt.
Ahmed H Abdel-SalamDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah AkhdharDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Zarah AlqarniDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mahmoud H EbeidNational Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt.
Lovert A WilliamMaterials Science Department, Institute of Graduate Studies & Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Ahmed MorsyFaculty of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt.
M AbdelatyPetrochemicals Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1235-9179
N S YousefPetrochemicals Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Abd El Salam NasraNational Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Bio-membrane technologies are emerging as promising solutions for sustainable water and wastewater treatment; however, their practical implementation remains constrained by fouling, limited long-term stability, and performance degradation under real operating conditions. This review critically evaluates recent advances in bio-functionalized membrane systems, focusing on the interplay between biological activity, membrane structure, and transport mechanisms. Key separation pathways, including bio-affinity interactions, enzymatic degradation, and coupled diffusion-reaction processes, are analyzed in relation to membrane morphology and surface chemistry. Advanced fabrication techniques such as electrospinning, layer-by-layer assembly, and 3D printing are assessed in terms of performance enhancement and scalability limitations. Major challenges including biofouling, biological instability, and material degradation are critically discussed alongside mitigation strategies such as surface functionalization and enzyme immobilization. The integration of artificial intelligence and IoT-based monitoring is also evaluated, although most applications remain at early development stages. Overall, this review identifies key research gaps and outlines future directions toward scalable, robust, and sustainable bio-membrane technologies.

Indexed as

Membranes, ArtificialWater PurificationBiofoulingMembranes, Artificialbio‐functionalized membranesbio‐membranefouling mitigationhybrid systemswater treatment

Identifiers

PMID42454679
PMCPMC13370853

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.