Nowadays, any polluted water can be separated to gain the products with the desired quality by using the conventional processes like distillation, crystallization, adsorption, chemical and biological treatment, if the cost and energy intensity of such treatment are not subject of interest. BRICS are the countries consist of i) the regions suffered from the high-density population, developed industry and agriculture, and ii) remotes areas with limited access to infrastructure, electricity and clean water. The advantage of membrane separation is to operate the process even in the case of shortage or no power supply by using low-grade heat or solar energy. Besides, some membrane processes can be operated without phase transition at the relatively low-pressure difference (e.g., ultrafiltration or low-pressure nanofiltration). 

The goal of this project is to develop membrane-based processes that can significantly reduce the energy consumption and the cost or to be operated independently for: 

(i) effective operation in the remote areas to produce the clean water and 

(ii) recovery of organic and inorganic components together with clean water from the polluted water.