Rejection of trace organic compounds by forward osmosis membranes: a literature review.

To meet surging water demands, water reuse is being sought as an alternative to traditional water resources. However, contamination of water resources by trace organic compounds (TOrCs), including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, disinfection byproducts, and industrial chemicals is of increasing concern. These compounds are not readily removed by conventional water treatment processes and require new treatment technologies to enable potable water reuse. Forward osmosis (FO) has been recognized in recent years as a robust process suitable for the treatment of highly impaired streams and a good barrier to TOrCs. To date, at least 14 studies have been published that investigated the rejection of various TOrCs by FO membranes under a variety of experimental conditions. In this paper, TOrC rejection by FO has been critically reviewed, evaluating the effects of membrane characteristics and orientation, experimental scale and duration, membrane fouling, feed solution chemistry, draw solution composition and concentration, and transmembrane temperature on process performance. Although it is important to continue to investigate the removal of diverse TOrCs by FO, and especially with new FO membranes, it is critically important to adhere to standard testing conditions to enable comparison of results between studies. Likewise, feed concentration of TOrCs during FO testing must be environmentally relevant (most commonly 10-100 ng/L range for most wastewaters) and not excessively high, and in addition to testing TOrC rejection in clean feedwater, the effects of real water matrix and membrane fouling on TOrC rejection must be evaluated.

[1]  J. Mueller,et al.  Emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals, personal care products, a food additive and pesticides) in waters of Sydney estuary, Australia. , 2015, Marine pollution bulletin.

[2]  J. Lester,et al.  The fate and behaviour of organic micropollutants during wastewater treatment processes: a review , 2014 .

[3]  Tzahi Y. Cath,et al.  The sweet spot of forward osmosis: Treatment of produced water, drilling wastewater, and other complex and difficult liquid streams , 2014 .

[4]  Tong Zhan,et al.  Osmotically driven membrane process for the management of urban runoff in coastal regions. , 2014, Water research.

[5]  Johannes S. Vrouwenvelder,et al.  Water harvesting from municipal wastewater via osmotic gradient: An evaluation of process performance , 2013 .

[6]  G. Amy,et al.  Fate of bulk and trace organics during a simulated aquifer recharge and recovery (ARR)-ozone hybrid process. , 2013, Chemosphere.

[7]  Juan D. Gomez,et al.  Towards direct potable reuse with forward osmosis: Technical assessment of long-term process performance at the pilot scale , 2013 .

[8]  Joseph R. V. Flora,et al.  Comparison of flux behavior and synthetic organic compound removal by forward osmosis and reverse osmosis membranes , 2013 .

[9]  Pierre Le-Clech,et al.  Trace organic solutes in closed-loop forward osmosis applications: influence of membrane fouling and modeling of solute build-up. , 2013, Water research.

[10]  Tai‐Shung Chung,et al.  Draw solutions for forward osmosis processes: Developments, challenges, and prospects for the future , 2013 .

[11]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Impact of humic acid fouling on membrane performance and transport of pharmaceutically active compounds in forward osmosis. , 2013, Water Research.

[12]  Wenshan Guo,et al.  The fate of pharmaceuticals, steroid hormones, phytoestrogens, UV-filters and pesticides during MBR treatment. , 2013, Bioresource technology.

[13]  Tom Depuydt,et al.  Forward and pressure retarded osmosis: potential solutions for global challenges in energy and water supply. , 2013, Chemical Society reviews.

[14]  Jianquan Luo,et al.  Effects of pH and salt on nanofiltration—a critical review , 2013 .

[15]  M. Elimelech,et al.  Effects of feed and draw solution temperature and transmembrane temperature difference on the rejection of trace organic contaminants by forward osmosis , 2013 .

[16]  Andrea Achilli,et al.  Standard methodology for evaluating membrane performance in osmotically driven membrane processes , 2013 .

[17]  Kerri L. Hickenbottom,et al.  Forward osmosis treatment of drilling mud and fracturing wastewater from oil and gas operations , 2013 .

[18]  Tzahi Y Cath,et al.  Effects of transmembrane hydraulic pressure on performance of forward osmosis membranes. , 2013, Environmental science & technology.

[19]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Removal of trace organic contaminants by the forward osmosis process , 2013 .

[20]  D. Lapworth,et al.  Emerging Organic Contaminants in Groundwater , 2013 .

[21]  Fuzhan Nasiri,et al.  A system dynamics approach for urban water reuse planning: a case study from the Great Lakes region , 2013, Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment.

[22]  Ryota Shinohara,et al.  Plant uptake of pharmaceutical chemicals detected in recycled organic manure and reclaimed wastewater. , 2012, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[23]  Sherub Phuntsho,et al.  Influence of temperature and temperature difference in the performance of forward osmosis desalination process , 2012 .

[24]  Jack Gilron,et al.  Seawater desalination for agriculture by integrated forward and reverse osmosis: Improved product water quality for potentially less energy , 2012 .

[25]  Andrea Achilli,et al.  Organic ionic salt draw solutions for osmotic membrane bioreactors. , 2012, Bioresource technology.

[26]  Chuyang Y. Tang,et al.  Rejection of pharmaceuticals by forward osmosis membranes. , 2012, Journal of hazardous materials.

[27]  Xue Li,et al.  Emerging forward osmosis (FO) technologies and challenges ahead for clean water and clean energy applications , 2012 .

[28]  Nanqi Ren,et al.  Temperature as a factor affecting transmembrane water flux in forward osmosis: Steady-state modeling and experimental validation , 2012 .

[29]  Amanda S Hering,et al.  Variability of trace organic chemical concentrations in raw wastewater at three distinct sewershed scales. , 2012, Water research.

[30]  S. Esplugas,et al.  Application of advanced oxidation for the removal of micropollutants in secondary effluents , 2012 .

[31]  Long D. Nghiem,et al.  Rejection of pharmaceutically active compounds by forward osmosis: Role of solution pH and membrane orientation , 2012 .

[32]  Long D Nghiem,et al.  Performance of a novel osmotic membrane bioreactor (OMBR) system: flux stability and removal of trace organics. , 2012, Bioresource technology.

[33]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Comparison of the removal of hydrophobic trace organic contaminants by forward osmosis and reverse osmosis. , 2012, Water research.

[34]  Linda Zou,et al.  Recent developments in forward osmosis : opportunities and challenges. , 2012 .

[35]  D. Lapworth,et al.  Emerging organic contaminants in groundwater: A review of sources, fate and occurrence. , 2012, Environmental pollution.

[36]  Jincai Su,et al.  Exploration of polyelectrolytes as draw solutes in forward osmosis processes. , 2012, Water research.

[37]  Tzahi Y Cath,et al.  A comparative life cycle assessment of hybrid osmotic dilution desalination and established seawater desalination and wastewater reclamation processes. , 2012, Water research.

[38]  Tai-Shung Chung,et al.  Forward osmosis processes: Yesterday, today and tomorrow , 2012 .

[39]  L. Nghiem,et al.  Removal mechanisms of trace organic contaminants in osmotically driven membrane process , 2012 .

[40]  Takashi Asano,et al.  Milestones in Water Reuse: The Best Success Stories , 2012 .

[41]  Víctor Matamoros,et al.  Occurrence and potential crop uptake of emerging contaminants and related compounds in an agricultural irrigation network. , 2011, The Science of the total environment.

[42]  Victor Yangali-Quintanilla,et al.  Rejection of micropollutants by clean and fouled forward osmosis membrane. , 2011, Water research.

[43]  Tzahi Y Cath,et al.  Bidirectional permeation of electrolytes in osmotically driven membrane processes. , 2011, Environmental science & technology.

[44]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Performance limiting effects in power generation from salinity gradients by pressure retarded osmosis. , 2011, Environmental science & technology.

[45]  Linda Zou,et al.  Effects of working temperature on separation performance, membrane scaling and cleaning in forward osmosis desalination , 2011 .

[46]  Shuaifei Zhao,et al.  Relating solution physicochemical properties to internal concentration polarization in forward osmos , 2011 .

[47]  Tzahi Y Cath,et al.  Comprehensive bench- and pilot-scale investigation of trace organic compounds rejection by forward osmosis. , 2011, Environmental science & technology.

[48]  C. Scott,et al.  Testing the Climate for Non-Potable Water Reuse: Opportunities and Challenges in Water-Scarce Urban Growth Corridors , 2011 .

[49]  Shane A. Snyder,et al.  Review of Ozone for Water Reuse Applications: Toxicity, Regulations, and Trace Organic Contaminant Oxidation , 2011 .

[50]  Sherub Phuntsho,et al.  A novel low energy fertilizer driven forward osmosis desalination for direct fertigation: Evaluating , 2011 .

[51]  Rong Wang,et al.  Synthesis and characterization of flat-sheet thin film composite forward osmosis membranes , 2011 .

[52]  A. Schäfer,et al.  Removal of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds in a water recycling process using reverse osmosis systems , 2011 .

[53]  A. Bodour,et al.  Prioritizing research for trace pollutants and emerging contaminants in the freshwater environment. , 2010, Environmental pollution.

[54]  Kai Yu Wang,et al.  Study of draw solutes using 2-methylimidazole-based compounds in forward osmosis , 2010 .

[55]  M. Reinhard,et al.  Impacts of emerging organic contaminants on freshwater resources: review of recent occurrences, sources, fate and effects. , 2010, The Science of the total environment.

[56]  Tzahi Y. Cath,et al.  Selection of inorganic-based draw solutions for forward osmosis applications , 2010 .

[57]  Andrea Achilli,et al.  Pressure retarded osmosis: From the vision of Sidney Loeb to the first prototype installation — Review , 2010 .

[58]  C. D. Lundin,et al.  A multi-barrier osmotic dilution process for simultaneous desalination and purification of impaired water , 2010 .

[59]  C. D. Lundin,et al.  Forward Osmosis-Reverse Osmosis Process Offers a Novel Hybrid Solution for Water Purification and Reuse , 2010 .

[60]  Emile R Cornelissen,et al.  Preliminary study of osmotic membrane bioreactor: effects of draw solution on water flux and air scouring on fouling. , 2010, Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research.

[61]  M. El-Shahawi,et al.  An overview on the accumulation, distribution, transformations, toxicity and analytical methods for the monitoring of persistent organic pollutants. , 2010, Talanta.

[62]  E. Hoek,et al.  Probing polyamide membrane surface charge, zeta potential, wettability, and hydrophilicity with contact angle measurements , 2010 .

[63]  Tzahi Y. Cath,et al.  Osmotically and thermally driven membrane processes for enhancement of water recovery in desalination processes , 2010 .

[64]  Anthony G Fane,et al.  Fouling propensity of forward osmosis: investigation of the slower flux decline phenomenon. , 2010, Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research.

[65]  L. Nghiem,et al.  Mechanisms underlying the effects of membrane fouling on the nanofiltration of trace organic contaminants , 2010 .

[66]  C. Daughton.  Pharmaceutical Ingredients in Drinking Water: Overview of Occurrence and Significance of Human Exposure , 2010 .

[67]  Amy E. Childress,et al.  Power generation with pressure retarded osmosis: An experimental and theoretical investigation , 2009 .

[68]  S. Snyder,et al.  Removal of emerging contaminants of concern by alternative adsorbents. , 2009, Water research.

[69]  A. Ismail,et al.  A review of the effects of emerging contaminants in wastewater and options for their removal , 2009 .

[70]  Amy E. Childress,et al.  The forward osmosis membrane bioreactor: A low fouling alternative to MBR processes , 2009 .

[71]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Influence of membrane support layer hydrophobicity on water flux in osmotically driven membrane processes , 2008 .

[72]  A. Royce,et al.  Effectiveness of UV Advanced Oxidation for Destruction of Micro-Pollutants , 2008 .

[73]  G. Amy,et al.  Solute transport model for trace organic neutral and charged compounds through nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes. , 2007, Water research.

[74]  Tzahi Y Cath,et al.  Forward osmosis for concentration of anaerobic digester centrate. , 2007, Water research.

[75]  Jacob Gibs,et al.  Efficiency of conventional drinking-water-treatment processes in removal of pharmaceuticals and other organic compounds. , 2007, The Science of the total environment.

[76]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Energy requirements of ammonia-carbon dioxide forward osmosis desalination , 2007 .

[77]  Shane A. Snyder,et al.  Removal of endocrine disrupting compounds and pharmaceuticals by nanofiltration and ultrafiltration membranes , 2007 .

[78]  J. McCutcheon,et al.  Influence of concentrative and dilutive internal concentration polarization on flux behavior in forward osmosis , 2006 .

[79]  J. McCutcheon,et al.  Internal concentration polarization in forward osmosis: role of membrane orientation , 2006 .

[80]  Amy E. Childress,et al.  Forward osmosis: Principles, applications, and recent developments , 2006 .

[81]  R. Schwarzenbach,et al.  The Challenge of Micropollutants in Aquatic Systems , 2006, Science.

[82]  Christopher Bellona,et al.  Effect of membrane fouling on transport of organic contaminants in NF/RO membrane applications , 2006 .

[83]  Robert L McGinnis,et al.  Desalination by ammonia–carbon dioxide forward osmosis: Influence of draw and feed solution concentrations on process performance , 2006 .

[84]  A. Schäfer,et al.  Critical risk points of nanofiltration and reverse osmosis processes in water recycling applications , 2006 .

[85]  Stuart J. Khan,et al.  Human risk assessment of organic contaminants in reclaimed wastewater used for irrigation , 2006 .

[86]  Christopher Bellona,et al.  Rejection of wastewater‐derived micropollutants in high‐pressure membrane applications leading to indirect potable reuse , 2005 .

[87]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Pharmaceutical retention mechanisms by nanofiltration membranes. , 2005, Environmental science & technology.

[88]  Shane Snyder,et al.  Fate of endocrine-disruptor, pharmaceutical, and personal care product chemicals during simulated drinking water treatment processes. , 2005, Environmental science & technology.

[89]  Michael Flynn,et al.  Membrane contactor processes for wastewater reclamation in space Part I. Direct osmotic concentration as pretreatment for reverse osmosis , 2005 .

[90]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  A novel ammonia-carbon dioxide forward (direct) osmosis desalination process , 2005 .

[91]  Lei Li,et al.  Effects of activated carbon characteristics on the simultaneous adsorption of aqueous organic micropollutants and natural organic matter. , 2005, Water research.

[92]  Oliver A.H. Jones,et al.  Pharmaceuticals: a threat to drinking water? , 2005, Trends in biotechnology.

[93]  Christopher Bellona,et al.  The role of membrane surface charge and solute physico-chemical properties in the rejection of organic acids by NF membranes , 2005 .

[94]  G. Amy,et al.  Rejection of Emerging Organic Micropollutants in Nanofiltration–Reverse Osmosis Membrane Applications , 2005, Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation.

[95]  Adriano Joss,et al.  Scrutinizing pharmaceuticals and personal care products in wastewater treatment. , 2004, Environmental science & technology.

[96]  Alden K Henderson,et al.  Persistence of pharmaceutical compounds and other organic wastewater contaminants in a conventional drinking-water-treatment plant. , 2004, The Science of the total environment.

[97]  Christopher Bellona,et al.  Factors affecting the rejection of organic solutes during NF/RO treatment--a literature review. , 2004, Water research.

[98]  M. Elimelech,et al.  Cake-enhanced concentration polarization: a new fouling mechanism for salt-rejecting membranes. , 2003, Environmental science & technology.

[99]  M. Petrovíc.  Analysis and removal of emerging contaminants in wastewater and drinking water , 2003 .

[100]  Peter Fox,et al.  Comparing microfiltration-reverse osmosis and soil-aquifer treatment for indirect potable reuse of water. , 2003, Water research.

[101]  Shane A. Snyder,et al.  Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care Products, and Endocrine Disruptors in Water: Implications for the Water Industry , 2003 .

[102]  S. Monarca,et al.  Advanced oxidation and adsorption technologies for organic micropollutant removal from lake water used as drinking-water supply. , 2002, Water research.

[103]  T. Heberer.  Occurrence, fate, and removal of pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment: a review of recent research data. , 2002, Toxicology letters.

[104]  E. Thurman,et al.  Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000: a national reconnaissance. , 2002, Environmental science & technology.

[105]  Lei Li,et al.  Effects of activated carbon surface chemistry and pore structure on the adsorption of organic contaminants from aqueous solution , 2002 .

[106]  F. Li,et al.  Pore distribution effect of activated carbon in adsorbing organic micropollutants from natural water. , 2001, Water research.

[107]  K. Jones,et al.  Persistent organic pollutants (POPs): state of the science. , 1999, Environmental pollution.

[108]  P. Roche,et al.  Predicting the Capacity of Powdered Activated Carbon for Trace Organic Compounds in Natural Waters , 1998 .

[109]  S. Jørgensen,et al.  Occurrence, fate and effects of pharmaceutical substances in the environment--a review. , 1998, Chemosphere.

[110]  K. Kadokami,et al.  Effect of ozonation for treatment of micropollutants present in drinking water source , 1997 .

[111]  D. Ronen,et al.  Unsaturated Zone and Ground‐Water Contamination by Organic Pollutants in a Sewage‐Effluent‐Irrigated Site , 1993 .

[112]  J O S H U,et al.  Removal of Natural Steroid Hormones from Wastewater Using Membrane Contactor Processes † , 2022 .