Insight into emerging applications of forward osmosis systems

The advent of Forward Osmosis (FO) has ushered in a new revolution in the field of membrane technology. Besides the oft-studied application of water purification, FO has opened up new frontiers of research in diverse fields. All of them are potentially sustainable technology solutions characterized by a high degree of process intensification. It is interesting to imagine different avenues where the potent combination of membrane technology and osmotic gradient can be used. This brief review evaluates four such emerging applications of FO; viz: Membrane Crystallization, Osmotic Pumps, Energy Production, and Membrane Evaporation which will be considered as the most important in the near future. All four aforesaid applications were critically reviewed with respect to the principle of operation, process design fundamentals, cost distribution, tangible benefits over conventional alternatives and commercial ventures around the world. Comparative assessments of transport flux, yield, configuration, and membrane module was carried out. Several issues relating to performance, hydrodynamics and scale up designs were analyzed with special emphasis on concentration polarization, flux decline, nature of the membrane