Forward Osmosis-Challenges and

R&D Directions
Presenter:
Sikandar M. Usman

Advisor:
Dr. Abdelnasser A. Aboukhlewa
Background
Osmosis: Osmosis is a spontaneous net transport of solvent (mostly water) across a semi- permeable
membrane, from a region of higher water chemical potential (i.e. higher solute concentration) to a region of
lower water chemical potential (i.e. lower solute concentration)
The membrane is designed with a selective layer that allows water passage yet rejects most solute
molecules or ions at its surface

There are mainly two clusters of

applications concerning FO in the
water production
and water treatment industry (Zhao
et al. 2012b) (Figure 7.2): (i)
desalination and (ii)
water reuse.
Background
There are mainly two clusters of
applications concerning FO in the
water production
and water treatment industry (Zhao
et al. 2012b) (Figure):
(i) desalination and
(ii) water reuse.
FO-2-Stage Process (Ideal Scenario)
The process of FO desalination can be divided
into two steps.

1. In the first step, water molecules are

permeated from the feed to the draw
solution across the semipermeable
membrane.
2. In the second step of FO desalination, the
draw solution is subsequently recovered by
separating pure water from the diluted
draw solution obtained in the first step of
the process. A simplified schematic of this
two-stage FO desalination process is
shown.
Challenges: FO membranes and concentration
polarization
The majority of the FO membranes are asymmetric in nature and are synthesized with an active dense
layer (for salt rejection) supported on a porous support layer. This results in two distinct membrane
orientations.
1. In the first orientation, the active membrane layer faces the draw solution and is typically the case in
pressure retarded osmosis (PRO).
2. In the second membrane orientation, the active layer of the membrane is towards the feed solution
(such as seawater) while the porous support layer is towards the draw solution. This is the case in FO
desalination.

Generally, the osmotic pressure difference across the active layer of the FO membrane is significantly
less compared to the bulk osmotic pressure difference and therefore, the actual water flux is significantly
lower than the theoretical flux. This lower water flux in FO desalination is attributed to the inevitable
and complicated membrane-related transport phenomenon known as concentration polarization (CP).
Concentration Polarization
The accumulation of solutes close to the membrane is known as CP. The CP is a common and inevitable
phenomenon in both pressure-driven and osmoticdriven membrane processes

In Fig., the CP at the active layer (CFm/CFB) is called

the external CP (ECP), and the CP (CDs/CDm) in the
supporting
layer is called ICP. Fig. 4 shows how ICP occurs in FO
process
when the feed solution is placed against the active thin layer.

As in any other membrane separation significant mass transfer

resistances occur in FO due to concentration polarization (CP)
effects. However here, the CP effects occur not only within
the boundary layers on and around the membrane surface, due
to
non-ideal hydrodynamics, usually referred to as external
concentration polarization (ECP), but also within the
membrane itself. The latter concentration polarization effect is
unique for conventional forward osmosis membranes and is
Concentration Polarization
1. External concentration polarization (ECP)

Since ECP is hydrodynamic related it is usually

mitigated by suitable membrane module design
and use of spacers. Improved hydrodynamics
influence ICP as well, but the phenomenon is
mainly related to the membrane structure
(porosity, thickness, pore tortuosity) and
membrane orientation, i.e. whether the porous
support side of an asymmetric membrane is
contacting the feed (AL-FS orientation, or FO
mode) or the draw (AL-DS orientation, or PRO
mode).
Concentration Polarization
2. Internal Concentration Polarization

Research has shown that the major factor contributing to the decline in
water permeation rate in FO desalination is the ICP, a phenomenon that takes place
within the asymmetric FO membrane. Like ECP, ICP may be concentrative or dilutive
depending on the membrane orientation.

Fig. Illustration of driving force and concentration

polarization for (a) the FO mode and (b) the PRO
mode. The ICP in (a) is called dilutive ICP, and in (b)
concentrative ICP
Xu et al. J. Membr. Sci. 348 (2010) 298–309
Challenges: Draw Solution (FO)
• The draw solution, based on the osmotic pressure properties, is the source of the driving force for the FO
desalination process and represents another extensive area of research besides membrane development.

• The ideal draw solute must be:

Highly soluble in water, capable of generating high osmotic pressures compared to the feed solution, the draw
solute must exhibit low ICP, nontoxic ,chemically inert to the membrane

• The recovery of pure water from the diluted draw solution is the most important consideration in successful
selection of a suitable draw solute. Since interest in FO desalination is driven by its energy efficient nature, the
draw solution must require no or minimum energy for regeneration and for separating pure water from the
diluted draw solution.

• The draw solution research can be categorized by the methods used to recover the draw solutions.
Membrane Fouling:
Challenges and R&D Directions:
Forward osmosis requires less feed pre-treatment than reverse osmosis, due to the mild process conditions
membrane fouling is less pronounced. This, along with the fact that the process does not require pressure rated
vessels to be operated means that the process can potentially be a feasible alternative to RO desalination when
low equipment weight and volume are among the main requirements(Space-NASA).

The issues and drawbacks (R&D Directions) can be summarized as:

• Concentration polarization
• Membrane Fouling: Like concentration polarization, membrane fouling is an unavoidable as well as essential
phenomenon influencing all types of membrane processes. Researchers comparing membrane fouling in FO
and RO suggested that it could be diverse from one case to another with respect to water cleaning efficiency
and reversibility. Although it was irreversible in RO, Lee et al. observed that membrane fouling in FO was
almost entirely reversible 
• Reverse solute flux (FO)
• Suitable commercial membranes: major challenges make FO systems not yet a commercially viable
technology, the most critical being development of a high flux membrane, capable of maintaining an elevated
salt rejection and a reduced internal concentration polarization effect
• Availability of ideal draw solutions: cost effective and non-toxic, which can be recirculated via an efficient
recovery process.
Challenges and R&D Directions:

**Li, L., Shi, W., & Yu, S.

(2020). Research on Forward
Osmosis Technology
Challenges and R&D Directions:
There are still several key technical issues that need to be addressed. The ideal membrane material, suitable
draw solute and its recovery approach, the mechanism of special wastewater membrane fouling, and the
cleaning strategies are still existing urgent barriers and they are still the researchers’ focus in the future,
improving the FO process in the following aspects:
(a) high water flux, low RSF (reverse solute flux), high mechanical strength, low ICP film material
modification and preparation;
(b) special modification and preparation of properties or functional membrane materials;
(c) development of new composite DS;
(d) the membrane fouling principle and fouling cake layer formation mechanism;
(e) the principle and solving methods of the accumulation of pollutants and salinity in the DS;
(f) membrane fouling mitigation and membrane cleaning methods and strategies. A lot of in-depth experiments
and research are still needed in these areas.

**Li, L., Shi, W., & Yu, S. (2020). Research on Forward Osmosis Technology
Mathematical Modelling of FO
Membrane:

Qf= the concentrate flow

Cf=the feed concentration
Qc=the concentration flow
Cc=the concentrate concentration
QDS-out= the flow rate of draw solution out of the FO
CDS-out= the concentration of draw solution out of the FO membrane
QDS-in= the flow rate of draw solution into the FO
CDS-in= the concentration of draw solution into the FO membrane
Thanks!