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Osmosis and Osmotic Pressure of Solutions02:40

Osmosis and Osmotic Pressure of Solutions

A number of natural and synthetic materials exhibit selective permeation, meaning that only molecules or ions of a certain size, shape, polarity, charge, and so forth, are capable of passing through (permeating) the material. Biological cell membranes provide elegant examples of selective permeation in nature, while dialysis tubing used to remove metabolic wastes from blood is a more simplistic technological example. Regardless of how they may be fabricated, these materials are generally...
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Osmosis is the movement of free water molecules through a semipermeable membrane.  The water's concentration gradient across the membrane is inversely proportional to the solutes' concentration. Whereas diffusion transports material across membranes and within cells, osmosis transports only water across a membrane, and the membrane limits the diffusion of solutes in the water. Osmosis is a special case of diffusion.
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Approximately 60% to 95% of the weight of living organisms is attributed to water. Therefore, maintaining appropriate water balance within cells is of paramount importance. Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane, such as a cell’s plasma membrane. In living organisms, water plays a crucial role as a solvent—a molecule that dissolves other molecules.
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Relating reverse and forward solute diffusion to membrane fouling in osmotically driven membrane processes.

Qianhong She1, Xue Jin, Qinghua Li

  • 1School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, N1-1B-35, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore.

Water Research
|March 6, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Draw solute diffusion in forward osmosis (FO) significantly impacts membrane fouling. Divalent cations from draw solutions enhance alginate fouling, with Ca(NO3)2 causing the most severe fouling, affecting water flux and process efficiency.

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Area of Science:

  • Membrane Science and Technology
  • Water Treatment Technologies
  • Environmental Engineering

Background:

  • Osmotically driven membrane processes like forward osmosis (FO) are crucial for environmental and energy applications.
  • Membrane fouling remains a significant challenge, impacting process efficiency and longevity.
  • Understanding draw solute-feed solution interactions is key to mitigating fouling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically investigate alginate fouling on osmotic membranes during FO operation.
  • To elucidate the relationship between reverse/forward solute diffusion and membrane fouling.
  • To evaluate the impact of different draw solutions (NaCl, MgCl2, CaCl2, Ca(NO3)2) on fouling behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Forward osmosis (FO) experiments were conducted using four different draw solutions.
  • Water flux was maintained at a constant level by adjusting draw solution concentrations.
  • Reverse and forward solute diffusion rates were measured and correlated with alginate fouling extent.

Main Results:

  • Reverse solute diffusion rates correlated with solute permeability coefficients, with NaCl exhibiting the highest rate.
  • Reverse diffusion of divalent cations (especially from Ca(NO3)2 and CaCl2) enhanced alginate fouling.
  • Severe fouling led to enhanced concentration polarization, reducing water flux.

Conclusions:

  • Draw solution chemistry significantly influences membrane fouling in FO.
  • The selection of draw solutions with minimal reverse solute diffusion is critical for fouling control.
  • Fouling-enhanced concentration polarization is a key mechanism affecting water flux in FO systems.