Membranes separations in Clean Water and Energy Production

清洁水和能源的供应是高度相互依存的。非常规能源在提取和加工过程中需要大量的水。非常规采油工艺生产一升油需要高达150 L的水，而常规工艺每升油需要40 L水。除此之外，非常规能源往往位于缺水和废水处理选择有限的地区。在提取过程中产生的大量受污染的水必须在释放或再利用之前进行处理。这些水对水处理过程提出了特别的挑战，因为它们含有充满油或沥青的细颗粒。合成膜已被用于分离各种液体混合物。它们在大规模水处理应用中取得了巨大的成功。膜的操作通量、其更换成本和更换频率决定了该工艺的经济性。在它们的使用中，一个反复出现的主题是由不可逆转的污染定义的膜寿命。这是一个系统运行中的一个点，在这个点上，膜不能再以任何方式清洗以再生有用的通量。在大规模应用中，膜的寿命严重影响了处理技术的可行性，本项目的目标是开发具有可控孔几何形状的新型膜，以提高微滤膜和超滤膜的运行通量。结果的实施将减少颗粒在膜孔中的捕获量，延长其使用寿命。这些膜应能抵抗废水中有机物的污染和降解，并从能源生产过程中产生水。这项工作的结果将允许回收来自非常规石油和天然气开采过程的工艺水，并减少这些重要能源的环境足迹，并适用于其他基于膜的水处理应用。

The supply of clean water and energy are highly interdependent. Non-conventional sources of energy require a considerable amount of water in their extraction and processing. Up to 150 L of water is need to produce one litre of oil from non-conventional oil extraction processes compared to 40 L of water per litre of oil in conventional processes. In addition to this; non-conventional sources of energy are often located in areas where water is scarce and wastewater disposal options limited. The large volumes of contaminated water produced in the extraction process must be treated before release or reuse. These waters pose particular challenges for water treatment processes as they contain fine particulates that are laden with oil or bitumen.Synthetic membranes have been used to separate a wide variety of liquid mixtures. They have been utilized with great success in large-scale water treatment applications. The operating flux of the membrane, its replacement cost and frequency of replacement dictate the economics of the process. A recurrent theme in their use is membrane life defined by irreversible fouling. This is the point in the operation of a system where the membrane can no longer be cleaned by any means to regenerate a useful flux. In large-scale applications, membrane life seriously impacts the viability of the treatment technique.The objective of this project is to develop new membranes with controlled pore geometries to enhance the operating flux of micro- and ultrafiltration membranes. The implementation of the results will reduce particle entrapment in membrane pores, extending their useful life. These membranes are to be resistant to fouling and degradation by organics found in wastewaters and produce waters from energy production processes. The results of this work will permit the recycling of process waters originating from non-conventional oil and gas extraction processes and reduce the environmental footprint of these important sources of energy and be applicable to other membrane based water treatment applications.