U.S.-Singapore Planning Visit: Collaborations in Forward Osmosis Research

0832894 Escobar该奖项支持规划访问，使伊莎贝尔Escobar教授在托莱多大学在俄亥俄州，以满足教授（尼尔）T.S.新加坡国立大学的Chung说。 所提出的研究是新颖的，在这个意义上，它结合了纳滤膜与定制的表面功能化的正向渗透（FO）应用。 研究人员建议通过在中性pH值下增加膜表面的负电荷值来开发FO操作。 这种更负的纳滤膜将具有更高的单价电解质截留率沿着较低的浓差极化。 与传统的热或反渗透工艺相比，开发使用正渗透路线的脱盐工艺技术有可能实现脱盐成本和能耗降低75%。 随着更有效的纳滤膜的持续开发，在较低的压力下操作，正向渗透过程可以有益于海水淡化和确定新的淡水资源。 这将导致满足经济和环境问题。 研究人员在该领域具有互补的科学专长。 该项目将联合收割机托莱多大学？我们与新加坡大学合作，在膜材料合成、表面改性和抗污染方面拥有专业知识。我们在正渗透和膜形成方面的专业知识。 该项目将开发可专利和可销售的FO中空纤维膜技术，对供水和膜行业产生重大的长期影响。 预计该项目将为两名美国研究生提供独特的培训和教育机会，以获得全球研究经验。 来自每个国家的科学家和学生之间的这些早期合作可能会带来长期合作，使两个机构都受益。

0832894EscobarThis award supports a planning visit to enable Professor Isabel Escobar at the University of Toledo in Ohio, to meet with Professor (Neal) T.S. Chung at the National University of Singapore. The proposed research is novel in the sense that it combines a nanofiltration membrane with tailored surface functionalization for forward osmosis (FO) application. The researchers propose to develop the FO operation by increasing the value of the negative charge of the membrane surface at neutral pH values. This more negative nanofiltration membrane will have a higher monovalent electrolyte rejection along with lower concentration polarization. Development of a desalination process technology using the forward osmosis route has the potential to achieve up to a 75 percent decrease in costs and energy consumption in desalination, in comparison to conventional thermal or reverse osmosis processes. With continued development of more efficient nanofiltration membranes, operating at lower pressures, the forward osmosis process can be beneficial for both seawater desalination and identifying a new resource for fresh water availability. This would result in satisfying both economical and environmental concerns. The researchers have complementary scientific expertise in the field. The project will combine the University of Toledo?s expertise on membrane material synthesis, surface modification and fouling resistance with the University of Singapore?s expertise in forward osmosis and membrane formation. It is feasible that this project will develop patentable and marketable FO hollow fiber membrane technologies that could have significant long-term impact on the water supply and the membrane industry. It is anticipated that this project will provide unique training and educational opportunities for two U.S. graduate students to obtain a global research experience. These early collaborations between the scientists and students from each country will likely lead to long-term collaborations that will benefit both institutions.