Developing an innovative high performance thin-film composite membrane using functionalized nanofibrous support layers for engineered osmosis

Funding: 2014: $55,133
2015: $51,583
2016: $48,993

Project Member(s): Shon, H., Tijing, L., Phuntsho, S.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC Discovery Projects)
National University of Singapore

Start year: 2014

Summary: Engineered osmosis (EO) is based on the principles of natural osmosis and is an emerging technology for low energy desalination and power generation by pressure-retarded osmosis. However, the process is limited by the challenge of the internal concentration polarisation (ICP) effects experienced when currently available membranes are used. Therefore, the aims of this project are to enhance our understanding of the ICP phenomenon in EO process and to evaluate strategies to mitigate the influence of ICP effects on the performance of the EO process by incorporating innovative funtionalised nanofibrous support layers for thin-film composite EO membrane. A significant increase of water flux and mechanical strength is anticipated.

Publications:

Akther, N, Phuntsho, S, Chen, Y, Ghaffour, N & Shon, HK 2019, 'Recent advances in nanomaterial-modified polyamide thin-film composite membranes for forward osmosis processes', Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 584, pp. 20-45.
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Park, MJ, Gonzales, RR, Abdel-Wahab, A, Phuntsho, S & Shon, HK 2018, 'Hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol coating on hydrophobic electrospun nanofiber membrane for high performance thin film composite forward osmosis membrane', Desalination, vol. 426, pp. 50-59.
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Chen, G, Liu, R, Shon, HK, Wang, Y, Song, J, Li, X-M & He, T 2017, 'Open porous hydrophilic supported thin-film composite forward osmosis membrane via co-casting for treatment of high-salinity wastewater', Desalination, vol. 405, pp. 76-84.
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Lim, S, Park, MJ, Phuntsho, S, Tijing, LD, Nisola, GM, Shim, W-G, Chung, W-J & Shon, HK 2017, 'Dual-layered nanocomposite substrate membrane based on polysulfone/graphene oxide for mitigating internal concentration polarization in forward osmosis', Polymer, vol. 110, pp. 36-48.
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Park, MJ, Phuntsho, S, He, T, Nisola, GM, Tijing, LD, Li, XM, Chen, G, Chung, WJ & Shon, HK 1970, 'Graphene oxide incorporated polysulfone substrate for the fabrication of flat-sheet thin-film composite forward osmosis membranes', 2nd International Conference on Desalination Using Membrane Technology, 2nd International Conference on Desalination Using Membrane Technology, Singapore.

Keywords: Electrospinning,Engineered osmosis,Water treatment

FOR Codes: Environmental Technologies, Physical and Chemical Conditions of Water in Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Environments (excl. Urban and Industrial Use), Environmentally sustainable engineering , Measurement and assessment of freshwater quality (incl. physical and chemical conditions of water)

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.