Article
Engineering, Chemical
S. -J. Im, S. Jeong, A. Jang
Summary: A new concept of HFFO-based infinity desalination process with minor environmental impacts is proposed, which can increase water production efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Through testing, it is found that HFFO can maintain the high efficiency operation of SWRO process while reducing the concentration of draw solution, saving costs.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Afraa H. Kamel, Raed A. Al-Juboori, Muayad Al-shaeli, Bradley Ladewig, Salah S. Ibrahim, Qusay F. Alsalhy
Summary: The hybrid system of membrane distillation (MD) and forward osmosis (FO) is an effective water treatment technology for hypersaline water with low energy consumption. However, challenges such as low energy conversion in MD and draw solution regeneration need to be addressed, and the water transfer balance between MD and FO is crucial for successful operation.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jiaojiao Zhang, Dong Wang, Yue Chen, Baoyu Gao, Zhining Wang
Summary: The study investigated the integrated forward osmosis-membrane distillation (FO-MD) process for landfill leachate treatment with the addition of HDTMPA scale inhibitor to control scaling behavior. The efficiency of the integrated system was much superior to that of the FO alone system, with high contaminant rejection and improved operation stability.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tobias Goetz, Birk Achenbach, Thomas Schiestel
Summary: A set of cellulose acetate hollow fiber membranes were manufactured using different weight ratios of acetone and the green solvent Agnique AMD 3L in dope solutions. The obtained hollow fibers revealed an asymmetric membrane structure and were tested with aqueous NaCl as the draw solution. With decreasing amounts of acetone, there was an increase in water flux and a reverse salt flux of the hollow fiber membranes annealed in water. Annealing in humid air also resulted in increased water flux and reverse salt flux compared to annealing in water. Decreasing the NaCl concentration led to an increase in the performance ratio of the hollow fiber membranes.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fozia Parveen, Nick Hankins
Summary: In a lab scale study, the combination of FO and DCMD technologies was used to create a continuous system for water reclamation. By optimizing each unit separately and then combining them, a hybrid system (FOMBR-MD) was established for water reclamation from wastewater. The diluted draw solution was fed to the MD unit for reconcentration.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Fahhame Jazini, Mohammad Karimi, Sara Azari
Summary: In this study, a solvent exchange method was used to treat cellulose acetate/cellulose triacetate forward osmosis (CA/CTA FO) membrane, resulting in increased micropores and mesopores, and improved reverse salt flux and pure water flux by 65% and 20% respectively. The treatment also led to a 55% increase in selectivity and a 40% reduction in structural parameter, contributing to enhanced membrane performance.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xiaogeng Lin, Yasan He, Yuting Zhang, Wanyin Yu, Tao Lian
Summary: By incorporating sulfonated COFs into CTA/CA membranes, the FO performance was enhanced through increased membrane porosity, reduced structural parameter, and improved hydrophilicity. The synthesized TATP-SO3H COF with an ideal pore size showed high rejection to salt and easy water passage. XPS results confirmed the presence of H-bonding between TATP-SO3H and CTA/CA, leading to improved flux and selectivity in FO mode.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
I. G. Wenten, K. Khoiruddin, R. Reynard, G. Lugito, H. Julian
Summary: The concentration and preservation of heat-sensitive sensory and nutritional components in fruit juice is challenging in food processing. Forward-osmosis membranes offer a promising solution, but face issues such as concentration polarization, organic fouling, and product contamination. By modifying membrane layers and optimizing draw solutions, these challenges can be addressed for successful fruit juice concentration.
JOURNAL OF FOOD ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Rosemary Colciaghi, Riccardo Simonetti, Luca Molinaroli, Marco Binotti, Giampaolo Manzolini
Summary: This study compared the Forward Osmosis (FO) processes using different draw solutions, AB and PAGBs, in terms of recovery ratio, temperature, and energy requirements. The results showed that PAGBs have lower energy consumption and higher energy efficiency but lower recovery rates, while AB has higher energy consumption and lower efficiency.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Faris M. Munshi, Jae-Hoon Hwang, Jungsu Park, Anwar Sadmani, Moonis Ali Khan, Byong-Hun Jeon, Woo Hyoung Lee
Summary: Efficient harvesting of microalgae can be achieved by combining forward osmosis technology with an electric field, which reduces membrane fouling, increases water flux, and enhances lipid content in algal biomass.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
H. Jain, A. K. Verma, R. Dhupper, S. Wadhwa, M. C. Garg
Summary: This study successfully increased the water flux and salt rejection rate of membranes using nanocomposites, achieving energy-efficient and effective desalination. The developed membranes are competitive with current FO membranes and are expected to provide an economic and efficient solution for remote areas.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sifani Zavahir, Tasneem Elmakki, Mona Gulied, Ho Kyong Shon, Hyunwoong Park, Konstantinos E. Kakosimos, Dong Suk Han
Summary: This study proposes an integrated system that combines a photoelectrochemical (PEC) system and forward osmosis (FO) system in tandem operation to address water, energy, and food (WEF) scarcity. Under simulated sunlight, the sulfurous solution in the PEC system is oxidized to produce hydrogen, while the FO system dilutes the oxidized sulfurous solution with simulated brackish water. The effluent from the FO system is recirculated to ensure continuous operation and can also be used as a cultivation solution for basil plants.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Ramakrishna Nayak, Prakasha Shetty, M. Selvakumar, B. Shivamurthy, Ashok Rao, K. V. Sriram, M. S. Murari, Akshayakumar Kompa, U. Deepika Shanubhogue
Summary: This study aims to find a low-cost, flexible thermoelectric generator using eco-friendly metal oxide-based materials for low-temperature applications. The study reveals that the performance of the flexible thermoelectric generator can be improved by fine-tuning the materials' properties such as crystallite size, bandgap, carrier concentration, carrier mobility, resistivity, the Seebeck coefficient, and micro-porosity of the ink film.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Reshma Lakra, Malini Balakrishnan, Subhankar Basu
Summary: The study demonstrated that the incorporation of AlFu MOF in the FO membrane enhanced water flux and reduced reverse salt flux. The optimal M-1-0.06 membrane showed significant enhancement in water flux and nutrient concentration from synthetic and real wastewater.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jie Guo, Qiaoli Yang, Qing-Wei Meng, Cher Hon Lau, Qingchun Ge
Summary: Chemically functionalizing membranes with neutral and positively charged imidazole derivatives can improve the cleaning performance and separation efficiency of membranes, especially for removing low concentrations of pollutants from water. The modified membranes showed significantly enhanced water fluxes and dye retention, with good antifouling properties and renewability.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jie Gao, Kwee Hiang Jackson Low, Yang Chen, E. Shyong Tai, Tai-Shung Chung, Chester Lee Drum
Summary: This study presents a novel approach using electrospun polyacrylonitrile membranes to separate red blood cells in blood and collect and stabilize plasma biomarkers while retaining human serum albumin. The physicochemical properties of the separation membranes can be further optimized for potential applications in microvolume sample collection.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jie Gao, Tai-Shung Chung
Summary: In this study, a novel membrane was developed for decellularization of blood in the dried plasma spot system. The membrane effectively removed red blood cells and allowed plasma permeation, with almost no retention of targeted amino acids.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wenxiao Gai, Yu Zhang, Qipeng Zhao, Tai-Shung Chung
Summary: A novel strategy combining amino functionalized carbon quantum dots and hypochlorite treatment has been demonstrated to significantly improve the separation performance of thin film composite hollow fiber membranes for brackish water reverse osmosis desalination, leading to increased water permeability and enhanced salt rejection.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Qipeng Zhao, Die Ling Zhao, Mui Hoon Nai, Shing Bor Chen, Tai-Shung Chung
Summary: Nanovoid-enhanced TFC membranes fabricated using ZIF-67 nanoparticles as sacrificial templates demonstrated better separation performance for BWRO desalination. The incorporation of ZIF-67 in different amounts resulted in membranes with varying nanovoid structures, influencing their physiochemical properties and separation performance. The membrane made from 0.1 wt % ZIF-67 exhibited significantly improved water permeance and salt rejection compared to the pristine TFC membrane.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ji Wu, Can Zeng Liang, Ali Naderi, Tai-Shung Chung
Summary: This study introduces a novel nanocomposite membrane design using soluble organic macrocyclic cavitands, which addresses the issue of discrete nanofiller phases in molecular-sieving membranes and achieves excellent molecular-seiving performance. These membranes exhibit outstanding high-temperature mixed-gas H-2/CO2 separation capabilities, making them highly promising for various energy-intensive molecular separations.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ji Wu, Tai-Shung Chung
Summary: By utilizing 4-sulfocalix[4]arene (SCA4) molecules, this unconventional nanocomposite membrane design can effectively separate CO2 from H2, demonstrating significantly enhanced H2/CO2 separation efficiency, mechanical properties, and long-term stability under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. These membranes also possess a single-phase composite structure that surpasses conventional phase-segregated mixed-matrix membranes in processability, providing a versatile toolbox for designing advanced molecular-sieving membranes with optimal performance, robust properties, and scalability.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Weikun Paul Li, Aung Thet Paing, Chin Ann Chow, Marn Soon Qua, Karikalan Mottaiyan, Kangjia Lu, Adil Dhalla, Tai-Shung Chung, Chakravarthy Gudipati
Summary: The novel tri-bore polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membranes were successfully scaled-up for industrial production and optimized for large-scale processes. After assembly into different length modules, the membranes showed high permeate flux and salt rejection rates in membrane distillation applications.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marn Soon Qua, Yan Zhao, Junyou Zhang, Sebastian Hernandez, Aung Thet Paing, Karikalan Mottaiyan, Jian Zuo, Adil Dhalla, Tai-Shung Chung, Chakravarthy Gudipati
Summary: Hollow fiber membranes made from PVDF polymer with a unique structure have been developed, which exhibit good mechanical strength and water vapor transportation. Through technology translation, the manufacturing scale of the membranes has been successfully increased, making them suitable for high-efficiency desalination and industrial wastewater applications.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bofan Li, Sheng Wang, Xian Jun Loh, Zibiao Li, Tai-Shung Chung
Summary: In the state-of-the-art membrane industry, sustainable and closed-loop recyclable membranes have been innovated using covalent adaptable networks (CANs) with thermally reversible Diels-Alder (DA) adducts. These membranes exhibit excellent mechanical properties, thermal and chemical stabilities, and separation performance comparable to or even higher than nonrecyclable membranes. The used membranes can be depolymerized to remove contaminants and refabricated into new membranes, filling in the gaps in closed-loop recycling and promoting the advancement of sustainable membranes for a green membrane industry.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ji Wu, Jie Gao, Shing-Bor Chen, Tai-Shung Chung
Summary: Tuning the permeation properties of TFN membranes through molecular redesign is important for RO desalination performance above the trade-off limit. Activation by organic solvents can boost water permeability but has rejection loss constraints. This study innovatively integrated soluble organic macrocyclic cavitands in the activating solvent to form cavity-bearing nanocomposite structures, which improved water permeability and salt/boron rejection.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Liang Ying Ee, Qipeng Zhao, Jie Gao, Chit Kai Lim, Kai Xue, Sze Yuet Chin, Sam Fong Yau Li, Tai-Shung Chung, Shing Bor Chen
Summary: In this study, facile intercalation and functionalization of β-cyclodextrin onto layered double hydroxides have resulted in the formation of accessible hydroxyl functional groups and anions that exhibit strong sorption and host-guest interaction with boron. The modified LDH was employed to fabricate a polyamide-based thin-film nanocomposite membrane with high salt rejection and water permeance for brackish water, achieving a high boron rejection rate as well. This pioneering study provides valuable insights into the design of brackish water reverse osmosis membranes using macrocyclic molecules and inorganic layered nanomaterials.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qianqian Zeng, Die Ling Zhao, Liguo Shen, Hongjun Lin, Ning Kong, Lei Han, Cheng Chen, Jiaheng Teng, Chuyang Tang, Tai-Shung Chung
Summary: This study inserted titanium oxide nanotubes into the interlayer space of 2D MXene-based membranes to prepare PMT membranes with excellent performance. The PMT membrane has outstanding hydrophilicity, high retention rates, and ultra-high permeability. It also exhibits excellent antifouling and self-cleaning properties. The incorporation of TiONT increased the interaction energy between the membrane and pollutants, thereby improving its antifouling performance. This novel 2D membrane shows great promise for large-scale continuous separations of oil/water emulsions.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fan Feng, Ji Wu, Can Zeng Liang, Martin Weber, Sui Zhang, Tai-Shung Chung
Summary: In this work, scalable polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) and polybenzimidazole (PBI) polymers were blended to create an enhanced polymer matrix that utilized the permeability and mechanical flexibility of PPSU and the selectivity and thermal stability of PBI. Calix[6]arene (CA6) was incorporated into the blend matrix to further enhance the H2/CO2 selectivity. The nanocomposite blend membrane achieved a significantly higher H2/CO2 selectivity with minimal permeability loss, surpassing the Robeson upper bound. This work presents exciting possibilities for designing molecularly mixed composite membranes (MMCMs) with better scalability compared to conventional mixed-matrix designs.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Baiwang Zhao, Jun Wen Wong, Can Zeng Liang, Ji Wu, Tai-Shung Chung, Sui Zhang
Summary: Researchers developed an inner-selective polyethersulfone-polydimethylsiloxane (PES-PDMS) thin-film composite (TFC) hollow fiber membrane for CO2/N2 separation. The membrane exhibited high CO2 permeance and CO2/N2 selectivity, making it a promising candidate for post-combustion CO2 capture.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Kai Yu Wang, Martin Weber, Tai-Shung Chung
Summary: PBI has been explored for fabricating HFMs for liquid and gas separations due to its chemical resistance and stability, enhancing separation performance. State-of-the-art technologies can fabricate macrovoid-free PBI HFMs, and chemically modified PBI membranes, PBI blended membranes, and PBI composite membranes can improve performance.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)