Microfiltration technologies in wastewater treatment processes are becoming increasingly more diversified and sophisticated. Recent point-specific modifications encompass the use of bioactive compounds for the added function of biosynthesized polymers. This review focuses on the synthetic routes towards chitosan derivatives, characterization and application for wastewater treatment in microfiltration technologies. As new frontiers are being explored with regard to energy-saving technologies, green materials that show potential are being constantly modified to create novel materials with auxiliary functions, which aids in their overall microfiltration performance. Green materials aid in the reduction of the processes’ overall carbon footprint and hence reduce the negative impact on the environment. The biodegradable nature of chitosan and its derivatives elucidated here compares the routes towards the fabrication of novel materials and morphological characterization. In addition, this review also categorizes, based on prior elucidation, the application criteria of such materials and their performance when subjected to microfiltration technologies.