Developing an innovative high performance thin-film composite membrane using functionalized nanofibrous support layers for engineered osmosis

工程渗透（EO）是基于自然渗透的原理，是一种新兴的低能耗海水淡化技术和压力延迟渗透发电技术。然而，当使用当前可用的膜时，该方法受到内部浓差极化（ICP）效应的挑战的限制。因此，本项目的目的是提高我们对环氧乙烷工艺中ICP现象的理解，并评估通过将创新的功能化纳米纤维支撑层用于薄膜复合环氧乙烷膜来减轻ICP效应对环氧乙烷工艺性能的影响的策略。预计水通量和机械强度将显著增加。

Engineered osmosis (EO) is based on the principles of natural osmosis and is an emerging technology for low energy desalination and power generation by pressure-retarded osmosis. However, the process is limited by the challenge of the internal concentration polarisation (ICP) effects experienced when currently available membranes are used. Therefore, the aims of this project are to enhance our understanding of the ICP phenomenon in EO process and to evaluate strategies to mitigate the influence of ICP effects on the performance of the EO process by incorporating innovative functionalised nanofibrous support layers for thin-film composite EO membrane. A significant increase of water flux and mechanical strength is anticipated.