Nanofiltration (NF) is, formally, the pressure‐driven membrane process that fills the gap between reverse osmosis (RO) and ultrafiltration (UF). Because the name of the process was introduced and accepted rather late (in the 1980s), the process boundaries are not well defined, so that NF has features of both neighboring processes, combined with the process' own specificities. This transitional profile makes NF to an exceptionally interesting technology, particularly because it operates in the range of applications for removal of small organic solutes in the range of 200–2000 g/mol, and (partial) removal of inorganic ions, with the additional potential of separating mono‐ and multivalent ions. The combination of the dual nature of NF as a process intermediate to RO and UF and its specific challenges and opportunities are shown in this article. Membrane materials and synthesis methods are described in brief and to the extent that they differ from general methods of membrane manufacturing. Properties of membranes and membrane materials prove to be necessary for understanding the performance of filtration and separation, which will be shown through a combined approach based on experimental insights and modeling.
Solvent‐resistant nanofiltration (SRNF) is described separately as one of the newly emerging membrane processes, with a very large potential for separations in the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, as well as food and related industries. The performance of SRNF will be related to physicochemical parameters, which eventually should allow prediction of the process performance.
For aqueous applications, special attention is paid to membrane fouling in NF, which remains one of the main points of attention. The approach followed here is that of the resistance‐in‐series model, in which flux decline is split up into its different contributing effects, aiming at identifying and controlling the most significant contributors. It is suggested that adsorption of organic solutes and pore blocking are potentially the most important mechanisms of flux decline that are difficult to control.
The most important applications of NF (in aqueous solutions) are outlined: production of drinking water (with focus on newly emerging applications such as the removal of a wide range of micropollutants), applications in wastewater treatment and water recycling, and the use of NF in fractionation processes.
Finally, a brief indication is given of the challenges for NF and NF membranes that remain to be solved.