Integration of Membrane Technology and Intelligent Automation in Urban Wastewater Treatment: A Conceptual Critical Review

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Vol 23 No 2 (2026): Jurnal Kesehatan Lingkungan Volume 23 No. 2, Juli 2026
Diterbitkan: Jul 31, 2026

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Darwis Baso
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Muslim Indonesia

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Increasing urbanization and urban population growth have intensified pressure on wastewater treatment systems, necessitating the development of more efficient, adaptive, and sustainable technologies. Conventional systems still face limitations in handling the complexity of wastewater characteristics and in meeting increasingly stringent effluent quality standards. This study aims to review the advancement of membrane technologies and intelligent automation, as well as to develop an integrative conceptual framework for urban wastewater treatment. The method employed is a critical literature review of 39 relevant scientific articles published between 2021 and 2025 and indexed in reputable databases. The results indicate that membrane technologies, such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and membrane bioreactors, can significantly improve contaminant separation efficiency and produce high-quality effluent. Meanwhile, intelligent automation systems based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence enable real-time, adaptive, and data-driven monitoring and process control, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and system reliability. The proposed integration has the potential to improve system responsiveness, energy efficiency, and sustainability, although its effectiveness remains conceptual. However, challenges such as membrane fouling, high energy consumption, and limitations in cost, infrastructure, and human resource capacity remain barriers to implementation. This study proposes an integrative conceptual framework that combines physical, biological, and digital technologies as a foundation for developing modern, adaptive, and sustainable urban wastewater treatment systems.

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