(61b) Nanofiber Thin Film Composite Membranes for Engineered Osmosis

Engineered osmosis (EO) is a rapidly emerging technology platform that harnesses osmotic pressure for desalination, water reuse, dewatering, and power generation.  However, a vast majority of EO development has been hindered by the lack of membranes designed for use with this unusual driving force. At the University of Connecticut, we have developed a number of new polymeric thin film composite membranes that function well in a number of EO applications. One of our most unique is our electrospun nanofiber supported TFC membrane.  The high porosity and low tortuosity of the nanofiber nonwoven support facilitates mass transport during osmosis.  These membranes demonstrate substantially better flux performance than commercial membranes and prove that radical departures in TFC membrane design are not only possible but also can yield high performance osmotic membranes.