Performance and energy balance of an anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor treating concentrated municipal wastewater.

Enhancement of thin-film composite membrane properties and performance by using modified silicon dioxide for forward osmosis process

Electric field forward osmosis (EFFO) for efficient oil-in-water emulsion separation and fouling mitigation in shipboard bilgewater

Fabrication of NH2-MIL-125(Ti) modified photocatalytic forward osmosis membrane for treating tetracycline hydrochloride and ibuprofen solution

Catalyzed in-situ amination of support layer for thermally stable forward osmosis membranes in industrial dyeing wastewater concentration

Membrane technology has garnered considerable attention for applications in wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Nevertheless, membrane fouling remains a major barrier, yet the lack of high-resolution non-destructive characterization techniques limits mechanistic understanding and model validation. Here, nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (Nano SIMS) is introduced as a powerful analytical tool to visualize and quantify the fouling layers on forward osmosis (FO) membranes. Using sodium alginate as a model foulant and Ca2 + as a representative multivalent cation, Nano SIMS enabled simultaneous mapping of organic matter (1 2C-, 1 6O-) and Ca-associated matter (4 0Ca1 6O-), revealing the formation and structural evolution of Ca2 +-organic networks within the fouling layer. A binarization-based image analysis method was developed to quantify the polymer volume fraction (φ2), which increased markedly with Ca2 + concentration and correlated strongly with flux decline, providing direct experimental support for the application of Flory-Huggins thermodynamic theory to the interpretation of membrane fouling. Application to real landfill leachate further demonstrated that Nano SIMS retains strong ion-recognition specificity and is capable of resolving fouling structures in complex matrices. This work establishes Nano SIMS as a versatile and robust non-destructive characterization technique for membrane fouling research, offering new opportunities for mechanistic investigation and model development in water treatment technologies.

Nonwoven materials, characterized by high porosity, tunable fiber architecture, robust mechanical strength, and versatile surface functionalizability, have emerged as highly promising platforms for next-generation seawater desalination. This review comprehensively examines the structural design strategies and performance-regulation mechanisms of nonwoven membranes across major desalination technologies, including reverse osmosis (RO), forward osmosis (FO), membrane distillation (MD), and solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SIE). Particular emphasis is placed on the synergistic influence of fiber diameter, orientation, porosity, and multilayer composite configurations in determining key performance metrics, including water flux, salt rejection, wetting resistance, antifouling behavior, and long-term operational stability. Furthermore, we summarize recent advances in nonwoven fabrication techniques, including melt blowing, electrospinning, and centrifugal spinning, and discuss their integration with emerging functionalization approaches such as plasma modification, nanoparticle and 2D-material incorporation, polymer blending, and sustainable bio-based materials. By aligning nonwoven material design with the physicochemical requirements of different desalination pathways, this review highlights the technological potential of nonwoven membranes to enable high-efficiency, low-carbon, and environmentally sustainable desalination systems.

Novel insight into combined heavy metal and polysaccharide fouling in forward osmosis: Role of water state evolution mediated by reverse solute diffusion

A new frontier in food processing: Pioneering the use of Mo-MXene-based membranes for mango juice concentration via forward osmosis

High-performance ZnO-modified aminated poly (vinyl chloride) thin film composite membrane for amoxicillin separation via forward osmosis process

Continuous regeneration of the draw solution in textile wastewater treatment using a combination of simultaneous forward osmosis and reverse osmosis

Investigating desalination and brine concentration using advanced membrane and thermal processes is crucial for reducing energy consumption and costs in the desalination industry. Emerging technologies such as forward osmosis (FO), osmotically assisted forward osmosis (OAFO), pressure-assisted forward osmosis (PAFO), electrodialysis (ED), membrane distillation (MD), and solvent extraction desalination (SED) have shown promise at the lab and pilot scales but are not yet commercially viable due to operational and economic challenges. In our study, we focused on MD to evaluate desalination performance using various saline feeds, including fresh, brackish, seawater, and desalination brine from Kuwait, applying both electrical and solar heating methods. Results revealed higher water flux for brackish water compared to seawater and brine, with salt rejection unaffected by increased salinity. Energy consumption was more influenced by feed quantity than by salinity. The water flux ranged from 1.5 to 2 L per square metre per hour (L.m²h-1), with a water recovery of 3.3 to 4% in electrical heating mode of operation. Solar mode operation of the MD system showed a water flux of 0.95 to 1 L.m²h-1, with an average recovery of 2.75%. Our findings highlight the practical potential of MD for solar desalination and brine concentration in remote areas and small-scale industrial waste treatment.

Forward osmosis (FO) has emerged as a highly attractive separation technology owing to its potential low-grade energy consumption and versatile applications. However, a significant gap remains in understanding its performance under dynamic conditions. This study investigates the dynamic performance of the FO process using NaCl and NH4HCO3 draw solutes. This study entails a well-established FO water flux model alongside dynamic molar balances to predict the dynamic profiles of key variables including water flux, salt back-diffusion, cumulative feed and permeate volumes, and concentration/dilution rates. The membrane parameters are evaluated considering the continuous decrease in concentration gradient across the membrane throughout the operating period. These parameters are calculated through a model of the specific salt back-diffusion formulated using Pyomo-AML. Model predictions were compared to experimental data over 20h at 1-min intervals, resulting in mean absolute errors ranging from 0.13 to 3.55% for the studied variables.

Abstract The anaerobic microfiltration osmotic membrane bioreactors (AnMF-OMBRs) and up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket microfiltration osmotic membrane bioreactors (UASB MF-OMBRs) are innovative systems treating high-strength wastewater and recovering resources. The microfiltration (MF) and forward osmosis (FO) permeates of these systems contain varying amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, which enrich soils and boost crop growth. Utilizing these permeates as fertilizers reduces dependency on chemical fertilizers, conserves natural resources, and valorizes wastewater. This study evaluates the application of MF and FO permeates of an AnMF-OMBR and a UASB MF-OMBR treating slaughterhouse wastewater as liquid fertilizer. Firstly, the permeates were blended with tap water to provide irrigation water quality, considering the national standards. Then, fertigation was applied using the blended MF (NH 4 + -N: 73–95 mg L −1 ; TP: up to 2.6 mg L −1 ) and FO (NH 4 + -N: 3.5–28 mg L −1 ; TP: < 0.5 mg L −1 ) permeates with tap water and their combination with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. After 22-day irrigation, analytical hierarchy process was applied to decide the best scenario for grass growth. Grass growth was assessed based on grass colour, soil and plant water retention capacity, coverage percentage, the number of fringes and shoots, and grass and root length. The results showed that the permeates of both bioreactors could be used as liquid fertilizer. Furthermore, in case of one-year full-scale operation of the systems, treating slaughterhouse wastewater, sufficient water was saved for the daily consumption of 240 people. The nutrient quantities in the MF permeates could fulfill 122%, 12%, and 46% of the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium needs for grass growth.

Thermally responsive ionic liquids (ILs) exhibit liquid-liquid phase separation into a water-rich (WR) and ionic-liquid-rich (ILR) phase when heated above a lower critical solution temperature (LCST). This phase behavior has been leveraged for applications ranging from forward osmosis (FO) desalination, where the IL acts as a draw solute, to refrigeration and dehumidification cycles, where the IL acts as a liquid desiccant. While significant effort has been devoted to characterizing the thermodynamic and thermophysical properties of LCST ILs, their phase separation kinetics have not been investigated. In this work, we describe the macroscale phase separation kinetics (phase separation time) by gleaning insight into the microscale colloidal behavior of aqueous mixtures of four different materials, P4444TFA (tetrabutylphosphonium-2,4-trifluoroacetate), P4444DMBS (tetrabutylphosphonium-2,4-dimethyl-benzenesulfonate), N4444Sal (tetrabutylammonium salicylate), and P4444Sal (tetrabutylphosphonium salicylate) as a function of IL concentration at a separation temperature of 70 °C. We report the discontinuous microscale size distributions for each material and correlate their theoretical settling velocities to experimental phase separation times. The results indicate that a simple Stokes' law model can predict the phase separation time within reasonable accuracy. Overall, this work lays the foundation for understanding the micro- to macroscale phase separation behavior and kinetics of LCST ILs for various water-energy applications.

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) forward osmosis (FO) membranes have emerged as promising candidates for efficient wastewater management and osmotic energy harvesting, due to their enhanced chemical stability and superior FO performance for low-energy waste brine treatments, such as volume reduction in oxidative chromium brine for cost-effective disposal. This study examines the oxidation resistance of RGO forward osmosis membranes against chromate Cr(VI). Our findings reveal that both the water flux and the reverse salt flux of RGO membranes are suppressed, accompanying an enhanced reverse flux selectivity after exposure to an acidic or neutral medium of Cr(VI) (pH 2.0–7.0). After exposure to a basic Cr(VI) medium of pH 10.0, an increase in reverse salt flux and a reduction in reverse flux selectivity are observed, which could be due to the synergistic effect of both pH and ionic solutes on the RGO membranes, not due to Cr(VI) oxidation. Remarkably, after the removal of chromate with a full rinse, the RGO membranes show a nearly complete recovery of their FO performance.

Nanoplastics-mediated interfacial processes controlling perfluorooctanoic acid transport in forward osmosis.

Dual-functional ionic liquids exhibiting upper critical solution temperature behavior and antibacterial activity as draw solutes for forward osmosis

Integrated in-situ electrochemical-membrane process for ammonia valorization and sustainable water reuse.

In-situ confinement growth of PEI-CaCO3@UiO-66 Nanohybrids for high-performance forward osmosis membranes with superior organic pollutant rejection and long-term stability