Multi-functional forward osmosis draw solutes for seawater desalination

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2015.06.018

Abstract

Abstract: Forward osmosis (FO), as one of the emerging desalination technologies, has the potential to produce freshwater from a variety of water sources by utilizing the osmotic pressure gradient across a semi-permeable membrane. Drawsolution, as an essential component of any FO process, can extract watermolecules fromseawater orwastewater. An ideal draw solution should meet three essential requirements, namely high osmotic pressure, low reverse flux, and facile regeneration mechanism. The selection of proper draw solutes is especially critical for an energy-efficient FO process since the energy consumption mostly arises from the separation or regeneration of the draw solution. Recently, we developed a few multi-functional FO draw solutes, mainly aiming to enhance the FO water flux and to explore facile re-concentration methods. This review summarizes these draw solutes, including Na⁺-functionalized carbon quantum dots, thermoresponsive copolymers, hydrophilic magnetic nanoparticles, and thermoresponsive magnetic nanoparticles.

Key words: Forward osmosis, Draw solution, Seawater desalination, Stimuli-responsive

摘要： Forward osmosis (FO), as one of the emerging desalination technologies, has the potential to produce freshwater from a variety of water sources by utilizing the osmotic pressure gradient across a semi-permeable membrane. Drawsolution, as an essential component of any FO process, can extract watermolecules fromseawater orwastewater. An ideal draw solution should meet three essential requirements, namely high osmotic pressure, low reverse flux, and facile regeneration mechanism. The selection of proper draw solutes is especially critical for an energy-efficient FO process since the energy consumption mostly arises from the separation or regeneration of the draw solution. Recently, we developed a few multi-functional FO draw solutes, mainly aiming to enhance the FO water flux and to explore facile re-concentration methods. This review summarizes these draw solutes, including Na⁺-functionalized carbon quantum dots, thermoresponsive copolymers, hydrophilic magnetic nanoparticles, and thermoresponsive magnetic nanoparticles.

关键词: Forward osmosis, Draw solution, Seawater desalination, Stimuli-responsive

Dieling Zhao, Shucheng Chen, Chun Xian Guo, Qipeng Zhao, Xianmao Lu. Multi-functional forward osmosis draw solutes for seawater desalination[J]. Chin.J.Chem.Eng., 2016, 24(1): 23-30.

Dieling Zhao, Shucheng Chen, Chun Xian Guo, Qipeng Zhao, Xianmao Lu. Multi-functional forward osmosis draw solutes for seawater desalination[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2016, 24(1): 23-30.

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