An artificial membrane, or synthetic membrane, is a synthetically created membrane which is usually intended for separation purposes in laboratory or in industry. Synthetic membranes have been successfully used for small and large-scale industrial processes since the middle of twentieth century. A wide variety of synthetic membranes is known. They can be produced from organic materials such as polymers and liquids, as well as inorganic materials. The most of commercially utilized synthetic membranes in separation industry are made of polymeric structures. They can be classified based on their surface chemistry, bulk structure, morphology, and production method. The chemical and physical properties of synthetic membranes and separated particles as well as a choice of driving force define a particular membrane separation process. The most commonly used driving forces of a membrane process in industry are pressure and concentration gradients. The respective membrane process is therefore known as filtration. Synthetic membranes utilized in a separation process can be of different geometry and of respective flow configuration. They can also be categorized based on their application and separation regime. The best known synthetic membrane separation processes include water purification, reverse osmosis, dehydrogenation of natural gas, removal of cell particles by microfiltration and ultrafiltration, removal of microorganisms from dairy products, and Dialysis. Membrane types and structure Synthetic membrane can be fabricated from a large number of different materials. It can be made from organic or inorganic materials including solids such as metals, ceramics, homogeneous films, polymers, heterogeneous solids (polymeric mixtures, mixed glasses), and liquids. Ceramic membranes are produced from inorganic materials such as aluminium oxides, silicon carbide, and zirconium oxide. Ceramic membranes are very resistant to the action of aggressive media (acids, strong solvents). They are very stable chemically, thermally, and mechanically, and biologically inert. Even though ceramic membranes have a high weight and substantial production costs, they are ecologically friendly and have long working life. Ceramic membranes are generally made as monolithic shapes of tubular capillaries. Liquid membranes Liquid membranes refer to synthetic membranes made of non-rigid materials. Several types of liquid membranes can be encountered in industry: emulsion liquid membranes, immobilized (supported) liquid membranes, molten salts, and hollow-fiber contained liquid membranes. Liquid membranes have been extensively studied but thus far have limited commercial applications. Maintaining adequate long-term stability is the problem, due to the tendency of membrane liquids to evaporate or dissolve in the phases in contact with them. Polymeric membranes Polymeric