Membrane Distillation Research Articles

Wetting challenges in treatment of raw textile wastewater by membrane distillation: A case study

Wetting challenges in treatment of raw textile wastewater by membrane distillation: A case study

Metal-organic frameworks/graphene oxide nanohybrids to control pore wetting in membrane distillation

Metal-organic frameworks/graphene oxide nanohybrids to control pore wetting in membrane distillation

Assessment of nuclear desalination in a small modular reactor using membrane distillation

Assessment of nuclear desalination in a small modular reactor using membrane distillation

Single and multi-objective optimization of sweeping gas membrane distillation with double-stage bubble column dehumidifier

Single and multi-objective optimization of sweeping gas membrane distillation with double-stage bubble column dehumidifier

Natural products-based Janus hydrophilic/hydrophobic membrane for efficient scaling-resistance and photothermal membrane distillation

Natural products-based Janus hydrophilic/hydrophobic membrane for efficient scaling-resistance and photothermal membrane distillation

Numerical simulation of the helical strake vacuum membrane distillation

Numerical simulation of the helical strake vacuum membrane distillation

Enhancing the nutritional quality and concentration of noni, pineapple, and dragon fruit juice mixture using osmotic membrane distillation

Enhancing the nutritional quality and concentration of noni, pineapple, and dragon fruit juice mixture using osmotic membrane distillation

Mechanism of sodium alginate (SA) fouling with the co-existing cations in membrane distillation process

Mechanism of sodium alginate (SA) fouling with the co-existing cations in membrane distillation process

Syncretizing photovoltaic module and air gap membrane distillation for simultaneous electricity and freshwater production: A comprehensive 5E study

Syncretizing photovoltaic module and air gap membrane distillation for simultaneous electricity and freshwater production: A comprehensive 5E study

Enhancing air gap membrane distillation performance through electromagnetic force integration

Enhancing air gap membrane distillation performance through electromagnetic force integration

Overcoming the Limitations of Forward Osmosis and Membrane Distillation in Sustainable Hybrid Processes Managing the Water–Energy Nexus

Energy-efficient and cost-effective water desalination systems can significantly replenish freshwater reserves without further stressing limited energy resources. Currently, the majority of the desalination systems are operated by non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuel power plants. The viability of any desalination process depends primarily on the type and amount of energy it utilizes and on the product recovery. In recent years, membrane distillation (MD) and forward osmosis (FO) have drawn the attention of the scientific community because of FO’s low energy demand and the potential of MD operation with low-grade heat or a renewable source like geothermal, wind, or solar energy. Despite the numerous potential advantages of MD and FO, there are still some limitations that negatively affect their performance associated with the water–energy nexus. This critical review focuses on the hybrid forward osmosis–membrane distillation (FO-MD) processes, emphasizing energy demand and product quality. It starts with exploring the limitations of MD and FO as standalone processes and their performance. Based on this, the importance of combining these technologies into an FO-MD hybrid process and the resulting strengths of it will be demonstrated. The promising applications of this hybrid process and their advantages will be also explored. Furthermore, the performance of FO-MD processes will be compared with other hybrid processes like FO–nanofiltration (FO-NF) and FO–reverse osmosis (FO-RO). It will be outlined how the FO-MD hybrid process could outperform other hybrid processes when utilizing a low-grade heat source. In conclusion, it will be shown that the FO-MD hybrid process can offer a sustainable solution to address water scarcity and efficiently manage the water–energy nexus.

Fluorinated Covalent Organic Framework Membranes with Robust Wetting Resistance for Durable Membrane Distillation.

Membrane distillation (MD) is a promising separation technique for producing pure water from brine using low-grade heat. Covalent organic framework (COF) membranes with high porosity and well-ordered pore structure exhibit excellent flux and salt rejection during MD. However, long-term MD operation is often restricted by the inevitable gradual wetting of COF membranes which causes deterioration of salt rejection, primarily resulting from the lack of intrinsic hydrophobicity. Herein, a fluorinated COF membrane with intrinsic hydrophobicity and excellent anti-wetting property is reported. Under 65 °C and 12 kPa absolute pressure, this membrane maintained a high water flux of 195 L m-2 h-1 and a salt rejection of 99.80% over 168 h of MD operation, which is the longest operation time ever reported for MD using COF membranes. In addition, the fluorinated COF membrane showed unparalleled resistance to scaling and organic fouling, demonstrating great potential for real-world brine treatment. Experimental and simulation studies revealed that incorporation of fluorine not only enhanced the hydrophobicity of the COF membrane, but also created electrostatic barriers within the fluorinated nanochannels, efficiently preventing ion penetration. These results underscore the remarkable potential of fluorinated COF membranes in MD, offering a promising solution for sustainable brine desalination.

Fluorinated Covalent Organic Framework Membranes with Robust Wetting Resistance for Durable Membrane Distillation

Membrane distillation (MD) is a promising separation technique for producing pure water from brine using low‐grade heat. Covalent organic framework (COF) membranes with high porosity and well‐ordered pore structure exhibit excellent flux and salt rejection during MD. However, long‐term MD operation is often restricted by the inevitable gradual wetting of COF membranes which causes deterioration of salt rejection, primarily resulting from the lack of intrinsic hydrophobicity. Herein, a fluorinated COF membrane with intrinsic hydrophobicity and excellent anti‐wetting property is reported. Under 65 °C and 12 kPa absolute pressure, this membrane maintained a high water flux of 195 L m‐2 h‐1 and a salt rejection of 99.80% over 168 h of MD operation, which is the longest operation time ever reported for MD using COF membranes. In addition, the fluorinated COF membrane showed unparalleled resistance to scaling and organic fouling, demonstrating great potential for real‐world brine treatment. Experimental and simulation studies revealed that incorporation of fluorine not only enhanced the hydrophobicity of the COF membrane, but also created electrostatic barriers within the fluorinated nanochannels, efficiently preventing ion penetration. These results underscore the remarkable potential of fluorinated COF membranes in MD, offering a promising solution for sustainable brine desalination.

Performance Analysis of DCMD Modules Enhanced with 3D-Printed Turbulence Promoters of Various Hydraulic Diameters.

Theoretical and experimental investigations were conducted to predict permeate flux in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) modules equipped with turbulence promoters. These DCMD modules operate at moderate temperatures (45 °C to 60 °C) using a hot saline feed stream while maintaining a constant temperature for the cold inlet stream. The temperature difference between the two streams creates a gradient across the membrane surfaces, leading to thermal energy dissipation due to temperature polarization effects. To address this challenge, 3D-printed turbulence promoters were incorporated into the DCMD modules. Acting as eddy promoters, these structures aim to reduce the temperature polarization effect, thereby enhancing permeate flux and improving pure water productivity. Various designs of promoter-filled channels-with differing array configurations and geometric shapes-were implemented to optimize flow characteristics and further mitigate polarization effects. Theoretical predictions were validated against experimental results across a range of process parameters, including inlet temperatures, volumetric flow rates, hydraulic diameters, and flow configurations, with deviations within 10%. The DCMD module with the inserted 3D-printed turbulence promoters in the flow channel could provide a relative permeate flux enhancement up to 91.73% under the descending diamond-type module in comparison with the module of using the no-promoter-filled channel. The modeling equations demonstrated technical feasibility, particularly with the use of both descending and ascending hydraulic diameters of 3D-printed turbulence promoters inserted into the saline feed stream, as compared to a module using an empty channel.

The Role of Photothermal Nanocomposites in Next-Generation Membrane Distillation Technologies: A Review

The Role of Photothermal Nanocomposites in Next-Generation Membrane Distillation Technologies: A Review

Comparative study on solar-driven combined liquid desiccant regeneration and freshwater production systems integrated with membrane distillation: Energy, exergy, and economic analysis

Comparative study on solar-driven combined liquid desiccant regeneration and freshwater production systems integrated with membrane distillation: Energy, exergy, and economic analysis

Removal of emerging contaminants from water using novel electroconductive membranes in a hybrid membrane distillation and electro-Fenton process

The treatment of emerging contaminants (ECs) with extremely low concentrations presents a significant challenge in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) like electro-Fenton (EF). Combining EF with membrane distillation (MD) can concentrate the feed solution, thereby improving the reaction kinetics. Our innovation integrates MD with EF using a hydrophobic, electrically conductive membrane, offering a sustainable solution for continuous dewatering while simultaneously facilitating the EF reaction. The electroactive membrane, fabricated via a simple “spray and cure” method with Ag ink on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane, exhibited high electrical conductivity (60000 S/cm) and underwater oleophobicity. The hybrid EF-MD showed a 2.5-fold increase in methyl orange (MO) degradation and a 3.4-fold reduction in the total organic carbon (TOC) compared to EF alone at room temperature. Testing ibuprofen removal at 350 ppb, EF-MD achieved 81 % degradation within a 2-hour operation time in a temperature range of 20–60 °C. In comparison, EF alone required over 6 h at 60 °C to achieve a similar level of ibuprofen degradation. The fabricated Ag-PTFE membrane can be operated at low electric potential (−1 V), maintaining a steady state of 10 mA current, making it an energy-efficient technology for EC removal. Moreover, it shows exceptional antibiofouling characteristics as it completely deactivates E. coli by > 99 % at 1 V. The Ag-PTFE membrane can be fabricated at larger scales and can actively capture and degrade harmful micropollutants that are often resistant to conventional treatment methods. This results in cleaner, safer water for both consumption and environmental discharge.

A novel composite membrane for zero liquid discharge of coking wastewater in membrane distillation

A novel composite membrane for zero liquid discharge of coking wastewater in membrane distillation

Improved solar-powered membrane distillation system for potable water and electricity production

Improved solar-powered membrane distillation system for potable water and electricity production

On the role of crystal-liquid interfacial energy in determining scaling, nucleation and crystal growth in membrane distillation crystallisation

On the role of crystal-liquid interfacial energy in determining scaling, nucleation and crystal growth in membrane distillation crystallisation