Issue 3, 2020

Reduction of reverse solute flux induced solute buildup in the feed solution of forward osmosis

Abstract

Forward osmosis (FO) has shown advancement towards recovery of useful water from various waste streams. A major issue that arises is the accumulation of salts due to reverse solute flux (RSF) from a draw solution into a feed solution that can result in several negative effects such as decreased water flux and inhibition of biological activities. This paper aims to provide a concise discussion and analysis of methods that can help to alleviate the effects of solute buildup. New parameters, solute removal/recovery rate (SRR) and removal/recovery ratio (ReR), are proposed to help better define the performance of reducing solute buildup and employed in case studies to evaluate selected reduction methods. Solute removal can be accomplished by physical separation, chemical precipitation, and biological removal. Recovery of solutes, one step beyond removal, is discussed and demonstrated by using bioelectrochemical systems and electrodialysis as examples. This work has highlighted the concerns associated with solute buildup and will encourage further exploration of effective tools to mitigate solute buildup for improved performance of FO-based water/wastewater systems.

Graphical abstract: Reduction of reverse solute flux induced solute buildup in the feed solution of forward osmosis

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Frontier
Submitted
04 9月 2019
Accepted
02 12月 2019
First published
04 12月 2019

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020,6, 423-435

Reduction of reverse solute flux induced solute buildup in the feed solution of forward osmosis

M. Ferby, S. Zou and Z. He, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020, 6, 423 DOI: 10.1039/C9EW00775J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements