Forward Osmosis Research Articles

Combined inhibition of anaerobic digestion by sulfate, salinity, and ammonium: potential inhibitory factors in forward osmosis-concentrated municipal wastewater.

Combined inhibition of anaerobic digestion by sulfate, salinity, and ammonium: potential inhibitory factors in forward osmosis-concentrated municipal wastewater.

Uranium concentration from acidic mine effluent using forward osmosis.

Uranium concentration from acidic mine effluent using forward osmosis.

Forward Osmosis Process for Concentration of Treated Tannery Effluent

Forward Osmosis is a suitable pretreatment process for reverse osmosis for secondary-treated sewage reuse and secondary-treated industrial effluents. In this study, the FO process is investigated for concentrating synthetic secondary treated tannery effluents using 24 g.L-1 and 38 g.L-1 of NaCl solution as draw solution. Results showed that 38 g.L-1 NaCl solution when used, provided higher flux and lower flux decline ratio as compared to 24 g.L-1 NaCl solution. The solute rejection by FO membrane was more in FO experiments using 38 g.L-1 NaCl solution as DS as compared to 24 g.L-1 NaCl solution. Contact angle, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electronic microscopy tests on pristine and chemically cleaned membranes indicated the change in membrane structure and the presence of foulants on the membrane surface, indicating insufficient chemical cleaning. Findings signify implications on the concentration of DS and the cleaning method adopted for concentrating treated tannery effluent efficaciously using the FO process.

Insights into the practicality of commercial ultrafiltration membranes for forward osmosis application: A comparative study

Insights into the practicality of commercial ultrafiltration membranes for forward osmosis application: A comparative study

Forward Osmosis Membrane Fouling in Oilfield Industry Wastewater Treatment with Fertilizer as the Draw Solution

Forward Osmosis Membrane Fouling in Oilfield Industry Wastewater Treatment with Fertilizer as the Draw Solution

A universal mathematical model for forward osmosis systems coupled with experimental validation

A universal mathematical model for forward osmosis systems coupled with experimental validation

Performance of pressure stimuli-responsive nanofiltration and cellulose acetate forward osmosis membranes for PFOA contaminated wastewater treatment

Performance of pressure stimuli-responsive nanofiltration and cellulose acetate forward osmosis membranes for PFOA contaminated wastewater treatment

Volatile Organic Solvents as Osmotic Agents of Organic Solvent Forward Osmosis for Pharmaceutical Concentration

Volatile Organic Solvents as Osmotic Agents of Organic Solvent Forward Osmosis for Pharmaceutical Concentration

Membrane Technologies for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Advances, Challenges, and Applications in Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) Systems.

As the demand for sustainable water and wastewater management continues to rise in both desalination and industrial sectors, there is been notable progress in developing Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) systems. Membrane technologies have become a key component of these systems, providing effective solutions for removing contaminants and enabling the recovery of both water and valuable resources. This article explores recent advancements in the design and operation of ZLD and MLD systems, discussing their benefits, challenges, and how they fit into larger treatment processes. Emphasis is given to membrane-based processes, such as reverse osmosis (RO), membrane distillation (MD), and forward osmosis (FO), as well as hybrid configurations, and innovative membrane materials. These advancements are designed to address critical challenges like fouling, scaling, high energy demands, and high brine production. The article also explores exciting research directions aimed at enhancing the efficiency and durability of membrane technologies in ZLD and MLD systems, paving the way for new innovations in sustainable water management across various industries.

Design of PVT driven forward osmosis and membrane distillation pilot plant for co-production of water and electricity.

Desalination by photovoltaic thermal (PVT)-driven forward osmosis (FO) and membrane distillation (MD) stands out for its lower operational costs and reduced carbon emissions. However, the feasibility of a pilot-scale PVT-driven FO-MD system remains unexplored, which is crucial for industrialization. This study introduces a pilot PVT-FO-MD desalination system designed for simultaneous water and electricity production. The system aims to assess the feasibility of the process, evaluate its costs, and explore its potential for industrial applications. While PVT collectors have higher costs than standard PV panels, they offer improved electrical efficiency and additional thermal power generation, making them more efficient overall. The optimal design was tested using saline water with a concentration of 10 000 mg per liter and a NaCl draw solute with a concentration of 1 molarity. The system produces 172.1 kW h of thermal energy, 93.9 kW h of electrical energy, and 269 L of water daily. The FO water flux varies between 8.13 and 8.29 LMH, while the MD water flux fluctuates between 2.72 and 4.25 LMH throughout the year. Using average yearly weather data, the system produces 33 872 kW h of electrical energy, 65 846 kW h of thermal energy, and 106.84 m3 of water annually. Increasing the desalination unit size boosts average water production to 126.47 m3 annually. The project requires an initial capital investment of 212 741.38 USD. The return on investment is 11.84%, with a breakeven point at nine years. The net present value turns positive just before the end of the project's lifetime at a 10% interest rate. Although this type of system has not yet been commercialized, further studies are recommended to enhance its market competitiveness.

Assessing the Energy Footprint of Desalination Technologies and Minimal/Zero Liquid Discharge (MLD/ZLD) Systems for Sustainable Water Protection via Renewable Energy Integration

Water scarcity necessitates desalination technologies, yet their high energy demands and brine disposal challenges hinder sustainability. This research study evaluates the energy footprint and carbon emissions of thermal- and membrane-based desalination technologies, alongside Minimal/Zero Liquid Discharge (MLD/ZLD) frameworks, with a focus on renewable energy source (RES) integration. Data revealed stark contrasts: thermal-based technologies like osmotic evaporation (OE) and brine crystallizers (BCr) exhibit energy intensities of 80–100 kWh/m3 and 52–70 kWh/m3, respectively, with coal-powered carbon footprints reaching 72–100 kg CO2/m3. Membrane-based technologies, such as reverse osmosis (RO) (2–6 kWh/m3) and forward osmosis (FO) (0.8–13 kWh/m3), demonstrate lower emissions (1.8–11.7 kg CO2/m3 under coal). Transitioning to RES reduces emissions by 90–95%, exemplified by renewable energy-powered RO (0.1–0.3 kg CO2/m3). However, scalability barriers persist, including high capital costs, RES intermittency, and technological immaturity in emerging systems like osmotically assisted RO (OARO) and membrane distillation (MD). This research highlights RES-driven MLD/ZLD systems as pivotal for aligning desalination with global climate targets, urging innovations in energy storage, material robustness, and circular economy models to secure water resource resilience.

Engineering grain boundaries in monolayer molybdenum disulfide for efficient water-ion separation.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have long been considered as ideal platforms for developing separation membranes. However, it is difficult to generate uniform subnanometer pores over large areas on 2D materials. We report that the well-defined eight-membered ring (8-MR) pores, typically formed at the boundaries of two antiparallel grains of monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), can serve as molecular sieves for efficient water-ion separation. The density of grain boundaries and, consequently, the number of 8-MR pores can be tuned by regulating the grain size. Optimized MoS2 membranes outperformed the state-of-the-art membranes in forward osmosis tests by demonstrating both ultrahigh water/sodium chloride selectivity and exceptional water permeance. Creating precise pore structures on atomically thin films through grain boundary engineering presents a promising route for producing membranes suitable for various applications.

Osmotic dilution: a sustainable option for dewatering of wastewater and application in irrigation

ABSTRACT Osmotic dilution is an environmentally benign natural process where a fertiliser solution is used in forward osmosis as a draw solute to pull water from a feed solution. Good-quality water can be drawn out of seawater (desalination) and/or wastewater (dewatering), thus generating a nutrient-rich stream which can be used for irrigation purposes in agriculture. The problem of regeneration of draw solutes, which is energy-intensive, can be avoided to a great extent. This work focuses on the performance of a few inorganic fertilisers such as ammonium sulphate, magnesium sulphate and potassium chloride as draw solutions for drawing pure water from wastewater using two Indigenous thin film composite (TFC) membranes. Performance parameters like water flux and reverse solute flux are studied. Partial recovery of the resultant fertiliser solution is attempted by nanofiltration to achieve nutrient balance for possible large-scale application in a sustainable manner.

Use of Membrane Techniques for Removal and Recovery of Nutrients from Liquid Fraction of Anaerobic Digestate.

This review focuses on the use of membrane techniques to recover nutrients from the liquid fraction of digestate (LFD) and emphasizes their role in promoting the principles of the circular economy. A range of membrane separation processes are examined, including microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), reverse osmosis (RO), forward osmosis (FO), membrane distillation (MD) and new tools and techniques such as membrane contactors (MCs) with gas-permeable membranes (GPMs) and electrodialysis (ED). Key aspects that are analyzed include the nutrient concentration efficiency, integration with biological processes and strategies to mitigate challenges such as fouling, high energy requirements and scalability. In addition, innovative hybrid systems and pretreatment techniques are examined for their potential to improve the recovery rates and sustainability. The review also addresses the economic and technical barriers to the full-scale application of these technologies and identifies future research directions, such as improving the membrane materials and reducing the energy consumption. The comprehensive assessment of these processes highlights their contribution to sustainable nutrient management and bio-based fertilizer production.

The characteristics of temperature-responsive ionic liquids on the integrated operational effectiveness of water reclamation from semiconductor wastewater using forward osmosis.

The characteristics of temperature-responsive ionic liquids on the integrated operational effectiveness of water reclamation from semiconductor wastewater using forward osmosis.

Methacrylic Acid (MAA)‐Chemical Grafted Polyethersulfone Nanofiltration Membrane for Forward Osmosis Application

AbstractThis study successfully modifies NF2 PES membrane via chemical grafting with methacrylic acid (MAA) at predetermined monomer concentrations, reaction times, and initiator concentrations by means of producing forward osmosis (FO) membrane. The membranes are utilized in the FO system, and performance is discussed in terms of water and solute flux. The surface characteristics of the modified membrane are analyzed in terms of water contact angle, functional groups, and degree of grafting (DG), meanwhile, morphological studies are analyzed via AFM and FESEM characterization. Based on the FO test performance, it can be concluded that increasing monomer concentration results in an increase in the permeate fluxes until a certain value is reached; only then does the permeate flux start to decrease. However, the effect of monomer concentrations is not significant on the permeate flux when shorter reactions are applied. This is probably due to the limitation of reaction time, which only allows certain values at a time for co‐polymerization to be completed, hence affecting the permeate flux. Increasing reaction time offers more reactions to occur, leading to more surface grafting activity. However, prolonging the reaction time does not always improve the surface grafting, especially when higher monomer concentration and initiator concentration are involved.

Modeling water flux in forward osmosis and pressure retarded osmosis accounting for reverse solute flux

Modeling water flux in forward osmosis and pressure retarded osmosis accounting for reverse solute flux

Modeling and optimization of reverse salt diffusion and water flux in forward osmosis by response surface methodology and artificial neural network

Modeling and optimization of reverse salt diffusion and water flux in forward osmosis by response surface methodology and artificial neural network

Simultaneous high volatile fatty acids concentration and ethanol extraction using nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and forward osmosis

Simultaneous high volatile fatty acids concentration and ethanol extraction using nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and forward osmosis

A novel application of slow-release fertilizers in fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis for real domestic wastewater treatment

A novel application of slow-release fertilizers in fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis for real domestic wastewater treatment