Novel mixed matrix dense and supported membranes based on biopolymer sodium alginate (SA) modified by fullerenol were developed. Two kinds of SA–fullerenol membranes were investigated: untreated and cross-linked by immersing the dry membranes in 1.25 wt % calcium chloride (CaCl₂) in water for 10 min. The structural and physicochemical characteristics features of the SA–fullerenol composite were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic methods, scanning electron (SEM) and atomic force (AFM) microscopies, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and swelling experiments. Transport properties were evaluated in pervaporation dehydration of isopropanol in a wide concentration range. It was found that the developed supported cross-linked SA-5/PAN^CaCl2 membrane (modified by 5 wt % fullerenol) possessed the best transport properties (the highest permeation fluxes 0.64–2.9 kg/(m² h) and separation factors 26–73,326) for the pervaporation separation of the water–isopropanol mixture in the wide concentration range (12–90 wt % water) at 22 °C and is suitable for the promising application in industry.

Pervaporation is one of the most active topics in membrane research, and it has time and again proven to be an essential component for chemical separation. It has been employed in the removal of impurities from raw materials, separation of products and by-products after reaction, and separation of pollutants from water. Given the global problem of water pollution, this approach is efficient in removing hazardous substances from water bodies. Conventional processes are based on thermodynamic equilibria involving a phase transition such as distillation and liquid–liquid extraction. These techniques have a relatively low efficacy and nowadays they are not recommended because it is not sustainable in terms of energy consumption and/or waste generation. Pervaporation emerged in the 1980s and is now becoming a popular membrane separation technology because of its intrinsic features such as low energy requirements, cheap separation costs, and good quality product output. The focus of this review is on current developments in pervaporation, mass transport in membranes, material selection, fabrication and characterization techniques, and applications of various membranes in the separation of chemicals from water.