What is Characterization

Membrane characterization is a critical necessity throughout the membrane's lifecycle. It mainly provides the connection between the fabrication and performance of the membrane. At the fabrication stage, membrane characterization allows us to study the membrane's characteristics in terms of its structure, morphology, chemical and physical properties, transport properties, etc. Membrane operation allows the determination of whether membrane cleaning is required or replacement is necessary. Finally, characterization at the end stage of membrane usability provides the causes of membrane failure which are significant data for future references. In that essence, this chapter discusses several methods that are used in membrane characterization processes, which are mainly categorized into the transport/flow, electron microscopy, scattering, and spectroscopy characterization methods.