Techno-economic analysis of forward osmosis system for domestic wastewater treatment

Abstract

Forward osmosis technology is a highly potential and energy-efficient technology to treat different types of wastewater, but commercialization of this technology seems far ahead. Economic evaluation and technological alignment are crucial assessments for commercializing these technologies. Domestic wastewater is used as a feed solution, while reverse osmosis reject/brine is used as a draw solution in the forward osmosis system. Capital expenditure and operating expenditure were used to calculate specific solution costs. Assuming membrane costs 30 $/m2, specific solution cost is obtained 0.37 $/m3. The current study examines the effect of water flux, feed solution flow rate, and draw solution on specific solution cost. Analysis suggests that the high membrane flux of forward osmosis system is the reason for lower specific solution cost. Despite good innovation potential, FO needs to overcome technical issues like less water flux, availability of the draw solution, poor retention of the impurities, advances in membrane rejections, fouling potentials, and membrane cleaning processes. The techno-economic assessment suggests a technological aspect that needs to improve to commercialize the technology.