Membrane distillation, which combines thermal desalination and porous hydrophobic membrane as non-wetting contact media, is currently gaining increasing important in membrane processes. However, the vast researches and reported publications of membrane distillation (MD) are less followed by its practical/industrial applications. This paper review analyzes the reasons for MD has not widely being implemented in practical/industrial applications. In addition, the strategies towards practical application are presented. Thus, this review will complement previous review of MD papers. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.