Three dimensionless parameters influencing the optimal membrane orientation for forward osmosis

Ronan K. McGovern; Jordan P. Mizerak; Syed M. Zubair; John H. Lienhard V

doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2014.01.061

Three dimensionless parameters influencing the optimal membrane orientation for forward osmosis

Ronan K. McGovern^*, Jordan P. Mizerak, Syed M. Zubair, John H. Lienhard V

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

In many forward osmosis applications, flux is maximised (and capital costs minimised) when the membrane is oriented such that the feed solution faces the support layer (PRO mode). Here, a framework is developed to understand the factors that determine the membrane orientation that maximises flux. In the absence of fouling, a dimensionless form of the water transport equations reveals the importance of three dimensionless groups: the ratio of draw to feed osmotic pressure, the ratio of draw to feed solute diffusivity, and the resistance to water transport of the support layer relative to the active layer. A parametric study of these parameters and an application of the dimensionless equations to three important FO processes reveal that having the draw solution face the support layer (FO mode) can maximise flux in specific instances. Interestingly, this implies that operation in FO mode can both maximise flux and minimise fouling for fertigation applications and the concentration of flowback waters from hydraulic fracturing.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	104-110
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Membrane Science
Volume	458
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2014.01.061
State	Published - 15 May 2014

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals for funding the research reported in this paper through the Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy at MIT and KFUPM under project number R15-CW-11. Ronan K. McGovern is grateful for support via the Fulbright Science and Technology program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the International Desalination Associations Channabasappa Memorial Scholarship, the MIT Martin Fellowship for Sustainability and the Hugh Hampton Young Memorial Fellowship.

Keywords

Desalination
Fertigation
Forward osmosis
Hydraulic fracturing
Membrane orientation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biochemistry
General Materials Science
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Filtration and Separation

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10.1016/j.memsci.2014.01.061

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title = "Three dimensionless parameters influencing the optimal membrane orientation for forward osmosis",

abstract = "In many forward osmosis applications, flux is maximised (and capital costs minimised) when the membrane is oriented such that the feed solution faces the support layer (PRO mode). Here, a framework is developed to understand the factors that determine the membrane orientation that maximises flux. In the absence of fouling, a dimensionless form of the water transport equations reveals the importance of three dimensionless groups: the ratio of draw to feed osmotic pressure, the ratio of draw to feed solute diffusivity, and the resistance to water transport of the support layer relative to the active layer. A parametric study of these parameters and an application of the dimensionless equations to three important FO processes reveal that having the draw solution face the support layer (FO mode) can maximise flux in specific instances. Interestingly, this implies that operation in FO mode can both maximise flux and minimise fouling for fertigation applications and the concentration of flowback waters from hydraulic fracturing.",

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note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals for funding the research reported in this paper through the Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy at MIT and KFUPM under project number R15-CW-11. Ronan K. McGovern is grateful for support via the Fulbright Science and Technology program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the International Desalination Associations Channabasappa Memorial Scholarship, the MIT Martin Fellowship for Sustainability and the Hugh Hampton Young Memorial Fellowship. ",

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AU - Mizerak, Jordan P.

AU - Zubair, Syed M.

AU - Lienhard V, John H.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals for funding the research reported in this paper through the Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy at MIT and KFUPM under project number R15-CW-11. Ronan K. McGovern is grateful for support via the Fulbright Science and Technology program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the International Desalination Associations Channabasappa Memorial Scholarship, the MIT Martin Fellowship for Sustainability and the Hugh Hampton Young Memorial Fellowship.

PY - 2014/5/15

Y1 - 2014/5/15

N2 - In many forward osmosis applications, flux is maximised (and capital costs minimised) when the membrane is oriented such that the feed solution faces the support layer (PRO mode). Here, a framework is developed to understand the factors that determine the membrane orientation that maximises flux. In the absence of fouling, a dimensionless form of the water transport equations reveals the importance of three dimensionless groups: the ratio of draw to feed osmotic pressure, the ratio of draw to feed solute diffusivity, and the resistance to water transport of the support layer relative to the active layer. A parametric study of these parameters and an application of the dimensionless equations to three important FO processes reveal that having the draw solution face the support layer (FO mode) can maximise flux in specific instances. Interestingly, this implies that operation in FO mode can both maximise flux and minimise fouling for fertigation applications and the concentration of flowback waters from hydraulic fracturing.

AB - In many forward osmosis applications, flux is maximised (and capital costs minimised) when the membrane is oriented such that the feed solution faces the support layer (PRO mode). Here, a framework is developed to understand the factors that determine the membrane orientation that maximises flux. In the absence of fouling, a dimensionless form of the water transport equations reveals the importance of three dimensionless groups: the ratio of draw to feed osmotic pressure, the ratio of draw to feed solute diffusivity, and the resistance to water transport of the support layer relative to the active layer. A parametric study of these parameters and an application of the dimensionless equations to three important FO processes reveal that having the draw solution face the support layer (FO mode) can maximise flux in specific instances. Interestingly, this implies that operation in FO mode can both maximise flux and minimise fouling for fertigation applications and the concentration of flowback waters from hydraulic fracturing.

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KW - Hydraulic fracturing

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ER -

Three dimensionless parameters influencing the optimal membrane orientation for forward osmosis

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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