• Membrane Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2018

This study is to find the optimum draw solution in fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis desalination. Considering osmotic pressure, solubility, and pH, 20 blended fertilizers were screened. Their performance were evaluated in terms of pure water permeate flux, reverse solute flux, and specific reverse solute flux for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The pure water permeate flux of blended fertilizers including KCl were relatively higher. The reverse solute flux and specific reverse solute flux for nitrogen of blended fertilizers containing ${NO_3}^-$ ion were relatively higher than those of the nitrate ion-free draw solution. Those for phosphorus, and potassium of blended fertilizers including $NH_4H_2PO_4$, and $KNO_3$ were relatively higher than those of the phosphorus-free, and potassium-free draw solution, respectively. The blended fertilizer of $NH_4H_2PO_4$ and KCl contains all of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which are essential elements of fertilizer, and has the relatively high water permeation flux and the low reverse solute flux for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Therefore, it is the most effective draw solution for fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis desalination.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.400-408
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• 2014

This study is to evaluate the performance of draw solutions in forward osmosis desalination using fertilizer as draw solution. Considering osmotic pressure, solubility, and pH, $NH_4NO_3$, $NH_4H_2PO_4$, $(NH_4)_2HPO_4$, KCl, $KNO_3$, and $KHCO_3$ were screened from a comprehensive lists of fertilizer. Their performance were evaluated in terms of pure water permeate flux, reverse solute flux, and specific reverse solute flux for nitrogen and phosphorus. KCl showed the highest pure water permeate flux among the selected fertilizers while $(NH_4)_2HPO_4$ draw solution had the lowest flux. $NH_4H_2PO_4$ showed the lowest reverse solute flux and specific reverse solute flux for nitrogen followed by $(NH_4)_2HPO_4$, $KNO_3$, and $NH_4NO_3$. Although the pure water permeate flux of $NH_4H_2PO_4$ is lower than the other draw solutions, because it contains both nitrogen and phosphorus, and have the lowest reverse solute flux and specific reverse solute flux, it is a promising candidate as draw solution for forward osmosis desalination.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.108-115
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• 2016

This study is to evaluate the performance of draw solutions in the water reuse of sewage discharge water using fertilizer drawn forward osmosis. Feed water used in all experiments was the effluent from secondary sedimentation tank in activated sludge process. Considering osmotic pressure, solubility, and pH, $NH_4H_2PO_4$, KCl, $KNO_3$, $NH_4Cl$, $(NH_4)_2HPO_4$, $NH_4NO_3$, $NH_4HCO_3$, and $KHCO_3$ were screened from a comprehensive lists of fertilizer. Their performances were evaluated in terms of water permeate flux and reverse solute flux. KCl showed the highest average water flux followed by $NH_4Cl$, $NH_4NO_3$, $KNO_3$, $KHCO_3$, $NH_4HCO_3$, $NH_4H_2PO_4$, and $(NH_4)_2HPO_4$. Using KCl as draw solution, the average water permeate flux was 13.49 LMH. There was no big difference in osmotic pressure between the effluent from secondary sedimentation tank and deionized water. $NH_4H_2PO_4$ showed the lowest reverse solute flux followed by $NH_4Cl$, $(NH_4)_2HPO_4$, $KNO_3$, $NH_4HCO_3$, and $NH_4NO_3$. Using $NH_4H_2PO_4$ as draw solution, the reverse solute flux was $4.96{\times}10^{-3}mmol/m^2{\cdot}sec$.