According to different mass transfer driving forces, membrane separation methods are divided into microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, dialysis, and osmosis. The driving force for microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis is the pressure difference, but the magnitude of the pressure difference varies. The pressure difference required for reverse osmosis is the largest, followed by nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, and the pressure difference required is the smallest for microfiltration; The driving forces of electrodialysis, dialysis, and permeation are in order of potential difference, concentration difference, and chemical potential difference. Currently, the most commonly used membrane separation technologies in the industrial field are microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and electrodialysis.

Filter membranes are used for the separation and concentration of solutes in treatment solutions, and are also commonly used for the separation of colloidal suspensions. Their application fields are constantly expanding.