Forward osmosis for application in wastewater treatment: a review

Kerusha Lutchmiah; A R D Verliefde; K Roest; L C Rietveld; E R Cornelissen

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2014.03.045

Forward osmosis for application in wastewater treatment: a review

Water Res. 2014 Jul 1:58:179-97. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.03.045. Epub 2014 Apr 4.

Authors

Kerusha Lutchmiah¹, A R D Verliefde², K Roest³, L C Rietveld⁴, E R Cornelissen³

Affiliations

¹ Delft University of Technology, Dept. of Water Management, Section Sanitary Engineering, Stevinweg 1, 2628CN Delft, The Netherlands; KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Post Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands. Electronic address: kerusha.lutchmiah@kwrwater.nl.
² Delft University of Technology, Dept. of Water Management, Section Sanitary Engineering, Stevinweg 1, 2628CN Delft, The Netherlands; Ghent University, Particle and Interfacial Technology Group, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
³ KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Post Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
⁴ Delft University of Technology, Dept. of Water Management, Section Sanitary Engineering, Stevinweg 1, 2628CN Delft, The Netherlands.

PMID: 24762551
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.03.045

Abstract

Research in the field of Forward Osmosis (FO) membrane technology has grown significantly over the last 10 years, but its application in the scope of wastewater treatment has been slower. Drinking water is becoming an increasingly marginal resource. Substituting drinking water for alternate water sources, specifically for use in industrial processes, may alleviate the global water stress. FO has the potential to sustainably treat wastewater sources and produce high quality water. FO relies on the osmotic pressure difference across the membrane to extract clean water from the feed, however the FO step is still mostly perceived as a "pre-treatment" process. To prompt FO-wastewater feasibility, the focus lies with new membrane developments, draw solutions to enhance wastewater treatment and energy recovery, and operating conditions. Optimisation of these parameters are essential to mitigate fouling, decrease concentration polarisation and increase FO performance; issues all closely related to one another. This review attempts to define the steps still required for FO to reach full-scale potential in wastewater treatment and water reclamation by discussing current novelties, bottlenecks and future perspectives of FO technology in the wastewater sector.

Keywords: Draw solution; Energy generation; Forward osmosis; Hybrid systems; Membrane fouling; Wastewater treatment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Biofouling
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Membranes, Artificial
Osmosis
Permeability
Temperature
Waste Disposal, Fluid / instrumentation*
Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
Wastewater*
Water Pollutants / chemistry
Water Pollutants / metabolism
Water Purification / methods*

Substances

Membranes, Artificial
Waste Water
Water Pollutants