Performance comparison of thin-film composite forward osmosis membranes

• Published in: Desalination and water treatment 2013-09, Vol.51 (31-33), p.6274-6280
• Main Authors: Fam, Winny, Phuntsho, Sherub, Lee, Jong Hwa, Shon, Ho Kyong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cellulose triacetate; Chemical engineering; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Exact sciences and technology; Forward osmosis (FO); Fouling; General and physical chemistry; Internal concentration polarization (ICP); Membrane separation (reverse osmosis, dialysis...); Membrane structures; Membranes; Organic polymers; Osmosis; Performance assessment; Permeability; Physicochemistry of polymers; Pollution; Properties and characterization; Reverse osmosis (RO); Salt rejection; Specific reverse solute flux; Surface properties; Thin films; Thin-film composite; Water treatment; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 1944-3986; 1944-3994; 1944-3986
• DOI: 10.1080/19443994.2013.780805

Forward osmosis (FO) is an emerging low-energy technology. Much effort was given on developing a new membrane material and engineering membrane structure to improve the performance of FO membranes. The performances of two newly developed polyamide-based thin-film composite (TFC) FO membranes were tested and compared with the commercially available cellulose triacetate (CTA) FO membrane. The intrinsic properties of the two TFC FO membranes determined in RO experiments indicate superior performance of the membranes. When tested in FO experiments, TFC membranes delivered consistent results, confirming their outstanding permeability and selectivity properties. The study shows that future studies on membrane fouling will be necessary to have a better understanding of membrane performance and to further optimize membrane properties.