Challenges and Opportunities in Ultra-High Pressure Reverse Osmosis Operation

Challenges and Opportunities in Ultra-High Pressure Reverse Osmosis Operation Jishan Wu 03/06/2024 Org Establishing In operando Molecular MPM modeling Demonstrate baseline measurements of dynamics (MD) of PSF & cross- high-pressure compaction of composite simulations of linked support (200 bar) QCM commercial & membrane polyamide film membrane partitioning & Task hand-cast RO compaction; formation, compaction; diffusion studies; membranes; Insitu XCT and crosslinking, CFD simulation Develop and Synthesis & SEM/FIB to compaction and & optimization calibrate new RO characterization perform 3D FIB transport of feed and transport model of compaction- tomography on permeate for high-salinity resistant the membranes spacer transport brines UHPRO membranes Hari Sitaraman PI Eric Hoek Sina Shinazimani Ying Li Menachem Elimelech Marc Day Participant Jishan Wu Yara Suleiman Jinlong He Sreejith N. Issues to address: Drought & Water scarcity Response: Increased use of alternative supplies Brackish groundwater Saline surface water Desalination Recycled wastewater Seawater Breakdown of installed desalination plants worldwide by technology (2017) Wu, J., Wang, J., Liu, Y., Rao, U., Hoek, E.M.V., Jassby, D., Kaner, R.B. High-Pressure Reverse Osmosis for Energy-Efficient Hypersaline Brine Desalination: Current Status, Design Considerations, and Research Needs, ES&T Letters Evaporative Brine Concentration (EBC) for M/ZLD MVC Primary RO brine Concentrated brine Crystallizer Slurry (Brine Concentrator) Reverse Osmosis Membrane Compaction and Embossing at Ultra-High Pressure Operation. Challenges in UHPRO process: Compaction Embossing Wu, J., et al. Compaction-resistant Thin Film Crosslinked Composite (TFX) Ultrahigh Pressure Reverse Osmosis TFX TFC Thermoset Thermoplastic Thermoplastic Crosslinking Thermoset Wu, J., et al. Polymer concentration increases 16% 18% Membrane gets tighter 20% 22% Wu, J., et al. DMF DMF DMF:1,4-Dioxane = 1: DMF:1,4-Dioxane = 1: DI IPA DI DI xlink DMF:1,4-Dioxane = 1: DMF:1,4-Dioxane = 1: IPA xlink IPA TFX TFX Wu, J., et al. Surface SEM images of TFX membranes Wu, J., et al.