Forward Osmosis/Pressure Retarded Osmosis

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2015)

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, Qatar Foundation, PO Box 5825, Doha, Qatar
Interests: membrane separation; forward osmosis; solute gradient; osmotic power; seawater desalination; water treatment and reuse; enhanced oil recovery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The applications of osmotically-driven membrane processes in seawater desalination, wastewater treatment and power generation are receiving much attention and growing very fast with a great potential for scaling-up and commercialization. This Special Issue of Forward Osmosis (FO) and Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) for power generation is motivated by having observed increasing interest expressed by various research groups in these fields and the large number of recently published papers covering various application aspects of these technologies. The Special Issue aims to provide an update on developments in the field and enhance understanding of the specific topics being addressed.

There has also been significant interest from the industry in osmotic processes with applications in desalination, water treatment, osmotic power, low salinity for enhanced oil recovery, treatment of co-produced water, wastewater treatment and reclamation among other applications. FO is not a standalone process and requires an additional step to separate the solvent from the draw solution and the recycling of the draw solution. Membrane, thermal, and chemical processes are used for draw solution regeneration and will also be covered in this Issue.

The Special Issue covers recent developments in the form of both theoretical and experimental studies in FO and PRO processes based on laboratory and field studies. This includes: hybrid processes and applications; FO membrane fabrication and characterization; membrane module and process design; process modeling and simulation; novel osmotic concepts; separation and regeneration of draw solution; PRO processes; osmotic power plants; techno-economic studies of FO and PRO processes; fouling and solute reverse diffusion; concentration polarization and modeling.

Prof. Dr. Adel Obaid Sharif
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • forward osmosis
  • pressure retarded osmosis
  • osmotic power
  • direct osmosis
  • draw solution
  • somatically driven processes
  • membrane separation
  • concentration polarization
  • membrane fouling
  • desalination
  • water treatment
  • FO membrane fabrication
  • membrane modeling

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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4841 KiB  
Article
Economic Evaluation of a Hybrid Desalination System Combining Forward and Reverse Osmosis
by Yongjun Choi, Hyeongrak Cho, Yonghyun Shin, Yongsun Jang and Sangho Lee
Membranes 2016, 6(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes6010003 - 29 Dec 2015
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 7408
Abstract
This study seeks to evaluate the performance and economic feasibility of the forward osmosis (FO)–reverse osmosis (RO) hybrid process; to propose a guideline by which this hybrid process might be more price-competitive in the field. A solution-diffusion model modified with film theory was [...] Read more.
This study seeks to evaluate the performance and economic feasibility of the forward osmosis (FO)–reverse osmosis (RO) hybrid process; to propose a guideline by which this hybrid process might be more price-competitive in the field. A solution-diffusion model modified with film theory was applied to analyze the effects of concentration polarization, water, and salt transport coefficient on flux, recovery, seawater concentration, and treated wastewater of the FO process of an FO-RO hybrid system. A simple cost model was applied to analyze the effects of flux; recovery of the FO process; energy; and membrane cost on the FO-RO hybrid process. The simulation results showed that the water transport coefficient and internal concentration polarization resistance are very important factors that affect performance in the FO process; however; the effect of the salt transport coefficient does not seem to be large. It was also found that the flux and recovery of the FO process, the FO membrane, and the electricity cost are very important factors that influence the water cost of an FO-RO hybrid system. This hybrid system can be price-competitive with RO systems when its recovery rate is very high, the flux and the membrane cost of the FO are similar to those of the RO, and the electricity cost is expensive. The most important thing in commercializing the FO process is enhancing performance (e.g.; flux and the recovery of FO membranes). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forward Osmosis/Pressure Retarded Osmosis)
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Review

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689 KiB  
Review
Aspects of Mathematical Modelling of Pressure Retarded Osmosis
by Yuri G. Anissimov
Membranes 2016, 6(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes6010013 - 3 Feb 2016
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6980
Abstract
In power generating terms, a pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) energy generating plant, on a river entering a sea or ocean, is equivalent to a hydroelectric dam with a height of about 60 meters. Therefore, PRO can add significantly to existing renewable power generation [...] Read more.
In power generating terms, a pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) energy generating plant, on a river entering a sea or ocean, is equivalent to a hydroelectric dam with a height of about 60 meters. Therefore, PRO can add significantly to existing renewable power generation capacity if economical constrains of the method are resolved. PRO energy generation relies on a semipermeable membrane that is permeable to water and impermeable to salt. Mathematical modelling plays an important part in understanding flows of water and salt near and across semipermeable membranes and helps to optimize PRO energy generation. Therefore, the modelling can help realizing PRO energy generation potential. In this work, a few aspects of mathematical modelling of the PRO process are reviewed and discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forward Osmosis/Pressure Retarded Osmosis)
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