High water flux and elevated rejection of salts and contaminants are two primary goals for membrane distillation (MD). It is imperative to study the factors affecting water flux and solute transport in MD, the fundamental mechanisms, and practical applications to improve system performance. In this review, we analyzed in-depth the effects of membrane characteristics (e.g., membrane pore size and distribution, porosity, tortuosity, membrane thickness, hydrophobicity, and liquid entry pressure), feed solution composition (e.g., salts, non-volatile and volatile organics, surfactants such as non-ionic and ionic types, trace organic compounds, natural organic matter, and viscosity), and operating conditions (e.g., temperature, flow velocity, and membrane degradation during long-term operation). Intrinsic interactions between the feed solution and the membrane due to hydrophobic interaction and/or electro-interaction (electro-repulsion and adsorption on membrane surface) were also discussed. The interplay among the factors was developed to qualitatively predict water flux and salt rejection considering feed solution, membrane properties, and operating conditions. This review provides a structured understanding of the intrinsic mechanisms of the factors affecting mass transport, heat transfer, and salt rejection in MD and the intra-relationship between these factors from a systematic perspective.

Electropolymerization was used for the co-deposition of glucose oxidase and heparin onto metal electrode transducers. Such electropolymeric co-entrapment within a non-conducting poly(1,2-phenylenediamine) (PPD) film imparts both biocatalytic and anticoagulation activities onto the transducer, and greatly improves the performance of the sensor after exposure to whole blood. Essentially identical glucose signals are observed before and after exposure to blood samples. Scanning electron micrographs after such exposure reveal no platelet deposition or formation of a fibrin "clot". The effect of the heparin co-immobilization on the glucose response is examined. Improved biocompatibility is reported also in connection with a needle-type carbon paste biosensor configuration. The simultaneous localization of the enzyme and heparin offers great promise for simplifying the preparation of enzyme electrodes and designing biocompatible implantable glucose biosensors.

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