Projects
In-situ modification for reverse osmosis membranes with novel polymers for the removal of small neutral organic micropollutants from drinking water sources Ghent University
Optimisation and research into the production of high-quality hollow fibre reverse osmosis membranes for desalination of brackish water Ghent University
Membrane integrity monitoring of reverse osmosis membranes for drinking water production using fluorescent tracers, natural viruses and flow cytometry Ghent University
Valorization of Reverse Osmosis Brines KU Leuven
Seawater is an abundant, but critical resource for any island. Using seawater for the production of freshwater requires desalination; this generates brines, which can be an environmental threat, or an opportunity. The strategic technological approach that will be developed is in exploring methods for separation of valuable elements such as lithium or magnesium from reverse osmosis brines. Given the current rate of depletion for some ...
Effects of membrane fouling in seawater desalination and wastewater treatment: comparison of reverse and forward osmosis membranes (RO and FO) Ghent University
Due to water scarcity, many countries are shifting towards seawater and wastewater as alternative sources for potable water. Membranes are often the preferred treatment technique for these applications. However, membrane fouling is still a serious disadvantage. Therefore, fundamental studies of membrane fouling in traditional (RO) and novel (FO) membrane processes are required.
Chlorine-Resistant Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membranes KU Leuven
Finding solutions to overcome water scarcity is a key challenge of the 21st century, given that half of the global population will live in water-stressed regions by 2050. One way to alleviate water scarcity is to desalinate sea and river waters through the use of membrane technology. Membranes are semipermeable materials through which water can pass, while salts and other dissolved compounds are rejected. State-of-the-art desalination ...
Thin film composite membranes and novel draw solutes for forward osmosis KU Leuven
Osmotic membrane processes, such as forward osmosis (FO) and pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) are emerging in the field of membrane technology. These processes are very promising due to their versatility in multiple applications like water treatment and sustainable energy production. The key factors that are currently standing in the way of direct implementation in industry is the lack of high-performance membranes, which combine high salt ...
Water-from-air Extraction Processes KU Leuven
Water is an essential good that fulfills multiple roles in society. Water is used for drinking, agricultural irrigation, and it acts as a solvent, reactant, or cooling medium in industrial processes. Enormous amounts of fresh water are needed to maintain our standard of living. Water itself is plentiful, but most water on Earth is either saline, found deep underground, or is present as snow, ice, or water vapor and therefore unavailable for ...
Solvents in membrane synthesis and their effect on NF/RO performance: from conventional organic solvents to ionic liquids KU Leuven
Membrane technology has grown significantly over the last decades and is used in a broad range of applications nowadays. Nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) are applied for the separation of low molecular weight components (< 1000 Da) and salts from the feed stream. The main part of the commercial NF and RO membranes are either integrally skinned asymmetric (ISA) or interfacially polymerized thin film composite (TFC) membranes. ...