Malays. J. Anal. Sci. Volume 29 Number 6 (2025): 1633

 

Review Article

 

Recent advances in functionalized chitosan for water purification: From adsorption to antifouling membrane coating

 

Nur Aida Fatimah Mashri1, Putri Amirah Solehin Sulizi1, Nur Hidayah Azeman2, Nurul Auni Zainal Abidin3, Nadhratun Naiim Mobarak1*

 

1Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor,Malaysia
2Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

3School of Chemistry and Environment, Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, Kampus Kuala Pilah, 72000, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding Author: nadhratunnaiim@ukm.edu.my

 

Received: 26 July 2025; Revised: 18 October 2025; Accepted: 1 November 2025; Published: 28 December 2025

 

Abstract

Chitosan, a biodegradable and renewable biopolymer, has drawn more attention recently for its potential use in water purification. However, the limited solubility at neutral pH, low mechanical stability and poor antifouling resistance of pristine chitosan limit its direct use. Recent studies have explored various chemical and physical modifications of chitosan to enhance its adsorption performance in water purification applications. In addition, the dip-coating of chitosan onto ceramic membranes has also been investigated to improve their antifouling performance. This review provides an updated overview of recent advancements in the use of functionalized chitosan for water purification, emphasizing the structure–property relationships that govern pollutant removal and fouling resistance. Looking ahead, future research should focus on enhancing the long-term stability of chitosan coatings, developing scalable and cost-effective synthesis routes, and establishing greener modification strategies. Furthermore, exploring multifunctional and hybrid chitosan-based materials, integrating computational modelling with experimental studies, and assessing real-world performance in complex water matrices will open promising directions for advancing sustainable water treatment technologies.

 

Keywords: functionalized chitosan, antifouling membranes, water purification, surface modification, adsorption, ceramic membranes

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