Rejection of organic micro-pollutants from water by a tubular, hydrophilic pervaporative membrane designed for irrigation applications

Preparation of a thin-film nanocomposite forward osmosis membrane for the removal of organic micro-pollutants from aqueous solutions

In this study, a thin-film nanocomposite forward osmosis (TFN FO) membrane was synthesized. The properties and structures of membranes were evaluated for the removal of three organic micro-pollutants from synthetic and real industrial wastewater samples. Laboratory scale fabrication thin-film nanocomposite forward osmosis (FO) membranes composed of a support layer and an active layer. The former was constructed by adding different weight ratios of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400) (0-8 wt.%), polysulfone (PSf), and 1-methyl, 2-pyrrolidone via the phase inversion process, while the latter was synthesized by the incorporation of different weight ratios of graphene oxide (GO) (0-0.012 wt.%), M-phenylenediamine, and 1, 3, 5-benzene trichloride into polyamide layer through the interfacial polymerization reaction. In comparison with thin-film composite (TFC) membranes, the TFN membranes revealed higher hydrophilicity, porosity, water permeability, water flux and salt rejection and lower internal concentration polarization (ICP), reverse salt flux and specific reverse salt flux. The TFN membrane containing 0.008% GO in the active layer and 4% PEG 400 in the support layer exhibited maximum water flux (34.3 LMH) and rejection rate of benzene, phenol and toluene (97%, 84%, and 91%, respectively). The results revealed that the TFN-FO membranes possess a promising potential to improve the water flux and wastewater treatment.

An overview on exploration and environmental impact of unconventional gas sources and treatment options for produced water

Rising global energy demands associated to unbalanced allocation of water resources highlight the importance of water management solutions for the gas industry. Advanced drilling, completion and stimulation techniques for gas extraction, allow more economical access to unconventional gas reserves. This stimulated a shale gas revolution, besides tight gas and coalbed methane, also causing escalating water handling challenges in order to avoid a major impact on the environment. Hydraulic fracturing allied to horizontal drilling is gaining higher relevance in the exploration of unconventional gas reserves, but a large amount of wastewater (known as "produced water") is generated. Its variable chemical composition and flow rates, together with more severe regulations and public concern, have promoted the development of solutions for the treatment and reuse of such produced water. This work intends to provide an overview on the exploration and subsequent environmental implications of unconventional gas sources, as well as the technologies for treatment of produced water, describing the main results and drawbacks, together with some cost estimates. In particular, the growing volumes of produced water from shale gas plays are creating an interesting market opportunity for water technology and service providers. Membrane-based technologies (membrane distillation, forward osmosis, membrane bioreactors and pervaporation) and advanced oxidation processes (ozonation, Fenton, photocatalysis) are claimed to be adequate treatment solutions.