Fabrication and application of chiral separation membranes: A review

A significant proportion of pharmaceutical compounds used in daily applications are chiral in nature, wherein optical enantiomers possess analogous physical and chemical properties but may exhibit distinct therapeutic effects. Consequently, considerable scholarly attention has been directed toward the development of enhanced methodologies for the production and separation of enantiomers. Among these methodologies, membrane separation technology has emerged as a highly promising approach for industrial chiral separation applications. However, the preparation of more efficient chiral membranes remains a formidable challenge, necessitating the advancement of preparation methods. Various techniques have been devised for the preparation of chiral solid membranes, encompassing electrostatic spinning, interfacial polymerization, surface graft modification, in-situ growth, and phase inversion methods. Despite the availability of these techniques, comprehensive summaries comparing their distinctions and advantages are scant. This review aims to provide a systematic synthesis and comparative analysis of different preparation processes. It is anticipated that this elucidation of preparation technologies will foster further advancements in chiral membrane research and facilitate progress in the field of chiral materials.