A Review on the Development of an Integer System Coupling Forward Osmosis Membrane and Ultrasound Waves for Water Desalination Processes

Bara A K Al-Sakaji; Sameer Al-Asheh; Munjed A Maraqa

doi:10.3390/polym14132710

A Review on the Development of an Integer System Coupling Forward Osmosis Membrane and Ultrasound Waves for Water Desalination Processes

Polymers (Basel). 2022 Jul 1;14(13):2710. doi: 10.3390/polym14132710.

Authors

Bara A K Al-Sakaji¹, Sameer Al-Asheh², Munjed A Maraqa^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 2666, United Arab Emirates.
³ National Water and Energy Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 1551, United Arab Emirates.

Abstract

This review considers the forward osmosis (FO) membrane process as one of the feasible solutions for water desalination. Different aspects related to the FO process are reviewed with an emphasis on ultrasound assisted FO membrane processes. The different types of membranes used in FO are also reviewed and discussed; thus, their configuration, structure and applications are considered. Coupling ultrasound with FO enhances water flux through the membrane under certain conditions. In addition, this review addresses questions related to implementation of an ultrasound/FO system for seawater desalination, such as the impact on fouling, flow configuration, and location of fouling. Finally, the mechanisms for the impact of ultrasound on FO membranes are discussed and future research directions are suggested.

Keywords: concentration polarization; draw solution; forward osmosis; fouling; scaling; seawater; ultrasound; water flux.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The work in this paper was supported, in part, by the Open Access Program from the American University of Sharjah.