Feasibility of thin film nanocomposite membranes for clean energy using pressure retarded osmosis and reverse electrodialysis

Abstract

Power generation from renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly significant as global energy consumption increases. The non-renewable energy sources we use now are on the verge of extinction. Reverse electrodialysis and pressure retarded osmosis are two methods of harvesting renewable energy using salinity gradients. There are non-polluting sources of energy that can be found at the interface of two solutions with varying salinity gradients. Reverse electrodialysis makes use of ion-selective membranes while uses salt rejecting membranes. It is necessary to employ membranes. Unlike pressure retarded osmosis membranes, ion-exchange membranes involve controlled mixing. The ion flux is employed by ion-exchange membranes in reverse electrodialysis to extract energy. Pressure retarded osmosis is an emerging membrane process uses for harvesting energy and desalination applications. Salinity gradient energy is a zero-emission and sustainable technology that can be practically applied worldwide. By employing a semipermeable membrane to control the mixing process, the osmotic pressure gradient energy can be generated in terms of electrical power via pressure retarded osmosis without causing adverse environmental impacts. In this study, the thin film nanocomposite membrane was fabricated by forming a polyamide thin film on the polysulfone substrate through the interfacial polymerization process.

Keywords

• Thin film nanocomposite membranes
• Separation processes
• Pressure retarded osmosis
• Reverse electrodialysis
• Industry 4.0 and Power generation