Forward Osmosis for Sustainable Industrial
Growth
Mónica Rodríguez-Galán, Francisco M. Baena-Moreno,
Fátima Arroyo-Torralvo, and Luis F. Vilches-Arenas
Abstract
In this work, a comprehensive discussion of forward
osmosis membrane technology is presented. Forward
osmosis is an interesting and promising system to
concentrate multiple kind of solutions in different industrial areas as an alternative solution to classical water
evaporation. Therefore, the number of publications and
works related to this topic has considerably increased in
the last years. Several aspects of forward osmosis have
been discussed such as membrane fouling, concentration
polarization phenomena, the different available draw
solutions and the industrial applications in which forward
osmosis has been applied. Cellulose triacetate membranes
and thin-film composite membranes are the most
employed nowadays. Chemical industry, desalination of
drinking water, food industry and pharmaceutical industry
are analyzed in deep since these are the most studied areas
for forward osmosis application. Herein, the potential of
forward osmosis for a sustainable industrial growth is
widely proved in every sense.
Keywords
Forward osmosis Á Membrane Á Review Á Draw
solutions Á Feed solutions Á Renewable energy Á Fouling
phenomena Á Industrial applications
1 Introduction
The continuous innovation of the different separation processes is the key to design more efficient and robust systems,
as well as to improve the environment which is characterized
for higher and higher greenhouse gas levels. Together with
carbon capture and utilization technologies, the invest on
new renewable technologies which imply less pollution is
taking an important part of the research sources
(Baena-moreno et al. 2018). Among the novel technologies
for separation of gas/liquid substances, membranes have
achieved a high level of recognition by the experts in this
area (Zhang et al. 2018; Baena-Moreno et al. 2019a, b).
Membrane separation techniques are technologies frequently
employed for industrial and environmental applications.
Indeed, high-level activity from researchers can be demonstrated by the elevated number of research papers in this field
(Baena-Moreno et al. 2019a, b; Zhang 2016; Zhang et al.
2014; Scholes et al. 2013; Hajilary et al. 2018; Brunetti et al.
2010; Bell et al. 2017).
In addition to industrial and environmental applications,
membrane separation processes are widely applied in
wastewater treatment, desalination and petrochemical (Brunetti et al. 2016; Farahani et al. 2018; Venzke et al. 2018).
For liquids involved-applications membrane filtration,
reverse osmosis, forward osmosis and membrane distillation
have stood out (Chabanon et al. 2016; Li et al. 2016; Eykens
et al. 2017). Among these technologies, forward osmosis
(FO) has been intensively studied due to its numeral
advantages such as high water recovery, low energy
requirements, low fouling phenomena and ease of cleaning
(Wang et al. 2018; Cath et al. 2006). Moreover, FO has the
advantages of needing less chemicals than other techniques
and no applied pressure is needed. Furthermore, its good
combination with membrane distillation for draw solution
regeneration after FO stage makes this technology suitable
for many applications in which low energy requirements are
required (Chekli et al. 2016). Nevertheless, there are some
M. Rodríguez-Galán (&) Á F. M. Baena-Moreno (&) Á
F. Arroyo-Torralvo Á L. F. Vilches-Arenas
Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department,
Technical School of Engineering, University of Seville,
C/Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
e-mail: mrgmonica@us.es
F. M. Baena-Moreno
e-mail: fbaena2@us.es
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Z. Zhang et al. (eds.), Membrane Technology Enhancement for Environmental Protection
and Sustainable Industrial Growth, Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41295-1_1
1
Growth
Mónica Rodríguez-Galán, Francisco M. Baena-Moreno,
Fátima Arroyo-Torralvo, and Luis F. Vilches-Arenas
Abstract
In this work, a comprehensive discussion of forward
osmosis membrane technology is presented. Forward
osmosis is an interesting and promising system to
concentrate multiple kind of solutions in different industrial areas as an alternative solution to classical water
evaporation. Therefore, the number of publications and
works related to this topic has considerably increased in
the last years. Several aspects of forward osmosis have
been discussed such as membrane fouling, concentration
polarization phenomena, the different available draw
solutions and the industrial applications in which forward
osmosis has been applied. Cellulose triacetate membranes
and thin-film composite membranes are the most
employed nowadays. Chemical industry, desalination of
drinking water, food industry and pharmaceutical industry
are analyzed in deep since these are the most studied areas
for forward osmosis application. Herein, the potential of
forward osmosis for a sustainable industrial growth is
widely proved in every sense.
Keywords
Forward osmosis Á Membrane Á Review Á Draw
solutions Á Feed solutions Á Renewable energy Á Fouling
phenomena Á Industrial applications
1 Introduction
The continuous innovation of the different separation processes is the key to design more efficient and robust systems,
as well as to improve the environment which is characterized
for higher and higher greenhouse gas levels. Together with
carbon capture and utilization technologies, the invest on
new renewable technologies which imply less pollution is
taking an important part of the research sources
(Baena-moreno et al. 2018). Among the novel technologies
for separation of gas/liquid substances, membranes have
achieved a high level of recognition by the experts in this
area (Zhang et al. 2018; Baena-Moreno et al. 2019a, b).
Membrane separation techniques are technologies frequently
employed for industrial and environmental applications.
Indeed, high-level activity from researchers can be demonstrated by the elevated number of research papers in this field
(Baena-Moreno et al. 2019a, b; Zhang 2016; Zhang et al.
2014; Scholes et al. 2013; Hajilary et al. 2018; Brunetti et al.
2010; Bell et al. 2017).
In addition to industrial and environmental applications,
membrane separation processes are widely applied in
wastewater treatment, desalination and petrochemical (Brunetti et al. 2016; Farahani et al. 2018; Venzke et al. 2018).
For liquids involved-applications membrane filtration,
reverse osmosis, forward osmosis and membrane distillation
have stood out (Chabanon et al. 2016; Li et al. 2016; Eykens
et al. 2017). Among these technologies, forward osmosis
(FO) has been intensively studied due to its numeral
advantages such as high water recovery, low energy
requirements, low fouling phenomena and ease of cleaning
(Wang et al. 2018; Cath et al. 2006). Moreover, FO has the
advantages of needing less chemicals than other techniques
and no applied pressure is needed. Furthermore, its good
combination with membrane distillation for draw solution
regeneration after FO stage makes this technology suitable
for many applications in which low energy requirements are
required (Chekli et al. 2016). Nevertheless, there are some
M. Rodríguez-Galán (&) Á F. M. Baena-Moreno (&) Á
F. Arroyo-Torralvo Á L. F. Vilches-Arenas
Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department,
Technical School of Engineering, University of Seville,
C/Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
e-mail: mrgmonica@us.es
F. M. Baena-Moreno
e-mail: fbaena2@us.es
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Z. Zhang et al. (eds.), Membrane Technology Enhancement for Environmental Protection
and Sustainable Industrial Growth, Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41295-1_1
1