Permeation of greywater constituents in an aquaporin based biomimetic forward osmosis membrane process: experimental performance and modeling

BACKGROUNDAn aquaporin based biomimetic forward osmosis (FO) membrane was tested with 11 greywater constituents to evaluate the membrane performance. The effects of solute type and concentration on water flux and rejection were investigated. A model was developed to predict the rejection of greywater constituents in the FO process. RESULTSThe aquaporin based biomimetic membrane (ABBM) presented high water flux (16.1-17.4 L m(-2) h(-1)) for greywater. Inorganic ions had little effect on permeability of the ABBM. For the tested organic solutes, while lactic acid, glucose and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate showed a positive impact on permeability of the ABBM, sodium dodecyl sulfate had a negative effect. After the tests of 11 selected constituents in greywater, the ABBM showed good chemical stability. Steric hindrance and electrostatic interaction both governed the diffusion of feed solutes through the ABBM. The mathematical model developed in this study accurately predicted the solute with small permeability coefficient (B-p value <3 L m(-2) h(-1)) transport through the ABBM. And it was suitable for predicting the rejections of target solutes at low FS concentration ( 6 mmol L-1). CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated that the ABBM could be used in greywater treatment and the developed model could contribute to greywater reuse. (c) 2019 Society of Chemical Industry