Factors affecting flux performance of forward osmosis systems
The performance of a forward osmosis (FO) system may be characterised by the assessment parameters: FO–RO flux ratio (Jw/Jw(RO)), apparent FO water permeability (Jw/(πds − πml)), and the newly developed flux efficiency factor (Jw,ob/Jw,re). The former two parameters offer information on extent of in...
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Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2013
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/101110 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/13674 |
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Institution: | Nanyang Technological University |
Language: | English |
Summary: | The performance of a forward osmosis (FO) system may be characterised by the assessment parameters: FO–RO flux ratio (Jw/Jw(RO)), apparent FO water permeability (Jw/(πds − πml)), and the newly developed flux efficiency factor (Jw,ob/Jw,re). The former two parameters offer information on extent of internal concentration polarisation and driving force utilisation, respectively. The Jw,ob/Jw,re factor has practical relevance, and reveals the inevitable trade-off between flux and recovery (φ) for a FO system. The derived Jw,ob/Jw,re factors corresponded well to experimental observations. High water permeability, low salt-to-water permeability ratio, and large mass transfer coefficient improve the performance of a FO system, but these may also be influenced by operational and fouling effects, such as draw solute transmission, fouling resistance and cake-enhanced concentration polarisation. It was shown that membrane properties also play a significant role in fouling behaviour. Fouling amelioration factors include aeration and osmotic backwash. A thin-film composite membrane showed potential for FO application with favourable intrinsic transport parameters. It was demonstrated that a FO system could achieve stable water production with both relatively high flux efficiency (Jw,ob/Jw,re = 0.8) and high recovery (φ = 95.8%), which attested to the technology potential. |
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