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Highly efficient forward osmosis based on porous membranes--applications and implications.
Saren Qi1,2, Ye Li1,2, Yang Zhao1,2
1†School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798.
Environmental Science & Technology
|March 10, 2015
Summary
Researchers developed a novel porous membrane for forward osmosis (FO), achieving high water flux with ultrafiltration-like properties. This breakthrough in FO filtration offers new possibilities for wastewater treatment and beyond.
Area of Science:
- Membrane Science and Technology
- Separation Processes
- Water Treatment
Background:
- Traditional forward osmosis (FO) membranes often have dense rejection layers, limiting their permeability.
- Achieving high water flux in FO typically requires a significant osmotic driving force.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the feasibility of using a porous membrane with an ultrafiltration (UF)-like rejection layer for high-performance FO.
- To evaluate the performance of this novel membrane in terms of water flux and stability.
Main Methods:
- Forward osmosis (FO) was conducted using a newly developed porous membrane featuring a UF-like rejection layer.
- The membrane's permeability and water flux were measured under varying osmotic pressures, including ultralow conditions.
- The membrane's performance was tested in oil/water separation applications.
Main Results:
- The UF-like FO membrane exhibited a permeability two orders of magnitude higher than traditional FO membranes.
- Respectable FO water flux (7.6 L/m(2).h) was achieved even at an ultralow osmotic pressure of 0.11 bar.
- Highly stable FO water flux was demonstrated during oil/water separation.
Conclusions:
- Porous FO membranes with UF-like rejection layers represent a significant advancement in FO technology.
- These membranes offer enhanced permeability and efficiency, particularly under low osmotic driving forces.
- The development opens new avenues for applications in wastewater treatment, product recovery, and biomedical fields.
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