Strategies to improve membrane performance in wastewater treatment Shams Forruque Ahmed a,* , Fatema Mehejabin a , Adiba Momtahin a , Nuzaba Tasannum a , Nishat Tasnim Faria a , M. Mofijur c,d , Anh Tuan Hoang b,* , Dai-Viet N. Vo e,f,* , T.M.I. Mahlia c,g a Science and Math Program, Asian University for Women, Chattogram 4000, Bangladesh b Institute of Engineering, HUTECH University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam c Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia d Mechanical Engineering Department, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Al Khobar, 31952, Saudi Arabia e School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, 14300, Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia f Institute of Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, 755414, Vietnam g Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Selangor, Malaysia. * Corresponding author: shams.ahmed@auw.edu.bd ; shams.f.ahmed@gmail.com (Shams Forruque Ahmed); hatuan@hutech.edu.vn (Anh Tuan Hoang); vndviet@ntt.edu.vn (Dai-Viet N. Vo) Abstract Membrane technology has rapidly gained popularity in wastewater treatment due to its cost- effectiveness, environmentally friendly tools, and elevated productivity. Although membrane performance in wastewater treatment has been reviewed in several past studies, the key techniques for improving membrane performance, as well as their challenges, and solutions associated with the membrane process, were not sufficiently highlighted in those studies. Also, very few studies have addressed hybrid techniques to improve membrane performance. The present review aims to fill those gaps and achieve public health benefits through safe water processing. Despite its higher cost, membrane performance can result in a 36% reduction in flux degradation. The issue with fouling has been identified as one of the key challenges of membrane technology. Chemical cleaning is quite effective in removing accumulated foulant. Fouling mitigation techniques have also been shown to have a positive effect on membrane photobioreactors that handle wastewater effluent, resulting in a 50% and 60% reduction in fouling rates for backwash and nitrogen bubble scouring techniques. Membrane hybrid approaches such as hybrid forward-reverse osmosis show promise in removing high concentrations of phosphorus, ammonium, and salt from wastewater. The incorporation of the 1