Recent Advances in Polymeric, Inorganic, and Mixed Matrix Membranes for Pervaporation Desalination

The growing global demand for freshwater and the limitations of conventional desalination methods have highlighted pervaporation (PV) as a promising membrane-based separation technology. Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs), incorporating inorganic fillers within polymeric matrices, have shown considerable potential to enhance PV desalination performance by improving water flux, salt rejection, and mechanical stability. This review comprehensively discusses recent advancements in MMMs for PV desalination, focusing particularly on inorganic fillers such as zeolites, graphene oxide (GO) based materials, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which facilitate selective molecular transport and reduce polymer swelling. Although significant progress has been achieved, critical challenges remain, including ensuring a uniform dispersion of fillers, optimizing filler-polymer compatibility, and sustaining membrane stability during long-term operation. Future research should prioritize detailed engineering of filler-polymer interfaces, development of practical fabrication methods, and rigorous evaluation of membrane performance under realistic conditions, thus enabling MMM-based PV membranes to become a viable, sustainable technology for desalination.