Membrane-based processes play a critical role in technologies for desalination and water purification, as well as emerging technologies for sustainable power generation from natural salinity gradients and waste heat.  In this presentation we will discuss several membrane processes which play an important role at the water-energy nexus.  One of these technologies is reverse osmosis, which is being used extensively worldwide for seawater desalination. The energy efficiency and the state of the technology of seawater desalination will be critically reviewed.  Another emerging process for water purification is forward osmosis. Several applications of forward osmosis that enhance sustainability at the water-energy nexus will be presented and research needs to advance the technology will be discussed.  Another closely related process is pressure retarded osmosis, an emerging technology for capturing salinity gradient energy from saline waters. We will focus on the viability of the process and highlight most beneficial applications of this process.  Lastly, we will describe a newly developed membrane-based process that can generate energy from low-grade or waste heat. In this thermo-osmotic energy conversion process, hydrophobic membranes utilize a temperature gradient to drive a vapor flux against a hydraulic pressure difference, effectively converting low-grade heat to useful work.  The fundamental principles of this thermo-osmotic energy conversion process will be delineated and research needs to enhance the viability of the process will be discussed.

Membrane-based processes at the water-energy nexus

255th National Meeting (2018)

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