The　increase　demand　on　clean　water　accompanied　with　water　shortage　is　now　threatening　the　ecosystem　and　human　life,　which　is　aggravated　with　the　rising　of　heavy-metal-ion　polluted　water.　Thus,　water　purification　from　metal-ion　contained　wastewater　is　of　significance.　The　metal　ions　removal　could　achieve　two　aims　simultaneously:　harvesting　clean　water　and　recovering　the　valuable　metal　resource.　Nanofiltration　(NF)　membranes,　featured　with　the　nanopore　size　and　energy-efficiency,　demonstrate　great　promise　for　separation　of　metal　ions　from　wastewater,　which　has　not　been　fully　exploited　with　the　rapid　growth　of　advanced　materials.　Thus,　a　summarization　on　the　recent　progress　in　this　field　is　essential.　In　this　review,　we　will　start　with　the　introduction　of　separation　mechanism.　Then,　the　possible　materials　used　for　NF　membrane　construction　will　be　given.　Subsequently,　the　commonly　used　NF　fabrication　techniques　will　be　detailed　with　some　examples.　Next,　the　NF　applications　in　treatment　of　various　heavy　metal　ions　polluted　water　will　be　thoroughly　discussed.　Finally,　the　perspectives　future　directions　will　be　provided.　This　review　is　expected　to　shine　a　light　on　the　fabrication　of　NF　membranes　for　high-performance　removal　of　heavy　metal　ions　from　the　wastewater,　realizing　the　water　purification　and　metal　recovery.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.