Chapters authored
Mass Transfer Mechanisms and Transport Resistances in Membrane Separation Process By Amira Abdelrasoul, Huu Doan, Ali Lohi and Chil-Hung Cheng
One of the major obstacles preventing a more widespread application of membrane technology is the fact that the filtration performance inevitably decreases with filtration time. The understanding of causes of flux decline and the ability of predicting the flux performance is crucial for more extensive membrane applications. Therefore, this review focused on the analysis of the interrelated dynamics of membrane fouling and mass transport in the filtration/separation process. Furthermore, findings from various studies undertaken by many researchers to investigate various aspects of these complex phenomena, were analyzed and discussed. These previous studies form the foundation essential for the alleviation of adverse effect of membrane fouling and emphasize the fact that the development of a complex overlapping approach is needed. Investigations of the mechanisms of mass transfer in low and high pressure membranes, analyses of diffusion mechanisms in the membrane pore together with identifications of transport resistances resulting from membrane fouling will allow for a comprehensive understanding and in-depth knowledge of the fouling phenomenon and applicable mass transfer mechanisms.
Part of the book: Mass Transfer
Challenges and Treatment of Microplastics in Water By Heloisa Westphalen and Amira Abdelrasoul
Microplastics are particularly problematic and could pose big treatment. challenges. In today’s world, plastic is an essential raw material. Since their invention in the 1930s, plastics have become ubiquitous in the manufacture of everyday products. Part of the problem stems from the fact that it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact source of the microplastics because of their relatively fragmented nature, small size, and a wide range of potential sources. Microplastics have become a threat to the environment, a concern reflected by sites with unusually high concentrations and a possibility of even greater concentrations in the future. Consequently, the use and subsequent release of microplastics must be drastically reduced as part of a global initiative even prior to the availability of research studies outlining the long-term risks involved. This chapter will interrogate key sources of microplastics, assess their capacity to problematize water resources in urban environments, as well as offer an analysis of its effects on the environment and some of the methodologies that can be applied to control it.
Part of the book: Water Challenges of an Urbanizing World
Novel Desalination RO Membranes By Amira Abdelrasoul, Huu Doan and Ali Lohi
Since the initial operation of the first reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants, only polymeric membranes have been employed for industrial use. As described in the previous chapter, the various advancements in the conventional polymeric RO membranes have been rather limited since the late 1990s, especially in the membrane permeability issue. Although new membrane modules have been released, however most of them are improved through a method that relies on increasing the membrane area per module. Recently, advances in nanotechnology have led to the development of nanostructured materials which may form the basis for new RO membranes. Li and Wang have included inorganic membranes and thin film nanocomposite membranes in a recent review, whereas Mauter and Elimelech have discussed the potential of carbon nanotube membranes for use as high flux membrane filters. In this chapter, the development of membranes that have been discussed in the previous two reviews will be briefly highlighted with a particular focus on the possibility of them being engineered into commercial RO membranes. At the same time this chapter includes a discussion about structured polymeric membranes synthesized via a new course featuring carbon-derived nanoporous membranes and biomimetic membranes. The coverage of all proposed novel desalination RO membranes in this section is aimed to provide a general overview of these materials and to draw a fair comparison of them possibly being developed into commercial RO membranes.
Part of the book: Biomimetic and Bioinspired Membranes for New Frontiers in Sustainable Water Treatment Technology
Sustainable Water Technology and Water-energy Nexus By Amira Abdelrasoul, Huu Doan and Ali Lohi
As water scarcity continues expanding in regions around the globe, there is an ever-increasing need to augment municipal, industrial, and agricultural water supplies through the purification of unconventional water sources, such as seawater, industrial and municipal wastewater. Due to the inextricable linkage between water and energy consumption, often called the water-energy nexus, the augmentation of water supplies must not come with a high cost energy consumption. As such, the high energy efficiency and often superior efficacy of membrane-based technologies have gained widespread implementation in various water treatment processes. Membranes allow passage of water, but largely reject salt and most other solutes, play a critical role in the majority of these processes. These types of membranes lie at the heart of traditional reverse osmosis (RO) processes.
Part of the book: Biomimetic and Bioinspired Membranes for New Frontiers in Sustainable Water Treatment Technology
Development of Conventional RO Membranes By Amira Abdelrasoul, Huu Doan and Ali Lohi
Polymeric RO membranes have dominated commercial applications since the very first RO desalination plant became industrially active. Due to their technological development they offer low-cost fabrication, ease of handling, and improved performance in selectivity and permeability. One of the earliest reviews on polymeric RO membrane materials was reported by Cadotte. It focused on composite RO membranes and covered the period from the inception of composite RO membranes up to approximately 1985. In 1993 Petersen offered a comprehensive review of the same subject, specifically examining the chemistry of the membrane materials. This section will briefly highlight the early development of membrane chemistry and graphical illustrations are used to visualize the performance improvement potential in RO membranes. This chronological description provides the readers with a quick overview of RO membranes formed by different mechanisms and their respective impact on the desalination industry over the years. For a more complete study of the early RO membrane development, readers are advised to further refer to Petersen’s work. In general, the development of membrane materials can be divided into two periods according to research activity: (i) the search for a suitable materials (chemical composition) and membrane formation mechanisms (1960s to late 1980s), and (ii) the evolution of more controlled conditions for membrane formulation as a way of enhancing membrane functionality and durability (late 1980s to date).
Part of the book: Biomimetic and Bioinspired Membranes for New Frontiers in Sustainable Water Treatment Technology
Fabrication of Biomimetic and Bioinspired Membranes By Amira Abdelrasoul, Huu Doan and Ali Lohi
Biomimetic and bioinspired membranes are those membranes that are fabricated with natural or natural-like (inorganic, organic, or hybrid) materials via biomimetic and bioinspired approaches (bio-mineralization, bio-adhesion, self-assembly, etc.) to tailor-specific properties (sophisticated structures, hierarchical organizations, controlled selectivity, antifouling or self-cleaning properties, etc.). With the support of knowledge on mechanisms, models and functions from many scientific disciplines, research activity on biomimetic and bioinspired membrane during the last decade has increased rapidly.
Part of the book: Biomimetic and Bioinspired Membranes for New Frontiers in Sustainable Water Treatment Technology
Aquaporin Biomimetic Membranes By Amira Abdelrasoul, Huu Doan and Ali Lohi
Recent research looked at an array of aquaporin protein structures, their unique functions, and potential applications in the research and industrial sectors. This chapter focuses on the specific functional features of aquaporin biomimetic membranes to interrogate their permeability properties in relation to various biomimetic water-transporting membranes. This chapter discusses in detail functional characteristics of aquaporin, how to produce it, and the status of aquaporin development.
Part of the book: Biomimetic and Bioinspired Membranes for New Frontiers in Sustainable Water Treatment Technology
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