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Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy

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01-10-2015 | Brief Report

Forward osmosis: an alternative sustainable technology and potential applications in water industry

Authors: Peter Nasr, Hani Sewilam

Published in: Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy | Issue 7/2015

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Abstract

This paper presents an advancing sustainable membrane-based separation process, which is forward osmosis (FO). The review begins with an introduction of the basic principles of the FO process. Then, a comparison to the most currently well-known desalination technology (RO) is presented. Following section summarizes potential applications of FO in the water desalination field, producing either potable water or irrigation water from brackish/saline feeds. Next, two major FO applications in the domain of water reuse are discussed: wastewater and industrial applications. Wastewater applications are such as OSMBR and landfill leachate treatment; and Industrial applications include oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries. These different FO applications are briefly reviewed and assessed. Although FO has attracted growing attention in many potential applications, it still experiences several considerable limitations, including concentration polarization, membrane fouling, reverse solute diffusion, and need for membrane and draw solution development.

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Title: Forward osmosis: an alternative sustainable technology and potential applications in water industry
Authors: Peter Nasr
Hani Sewilam
Publication date: 01-10-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy / Issue 7/2015
Print ISSN: 1618-954X
Electronic ISSN: 1618-9558
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-015-0927-8

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