Non-Isothermal Donnan-Dialysis: a novel method beyond iso-thermal Water pre-Treatment paradigm for Energy Reduction in desalination
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Civil Engineering
Abstract
Desalination technology is able to harvest abundant water from the sea or other saline sources such as groundwater and industrial effluents. However, the energy-intensity (EI) of water treatment by desalination is an increasing environmental, economical, and societal concern in many regions. An important way to reduce the energy intensity is to employ large resources of waste heat or lowgrade heat for pretreatment in desalination plants. Another challenge in desalination is the fouling and scaling of membranes by divalent cationic species (e.g. Ca2+, Mg2+) which necessitates chemical dosing and pretreatment and limits the fraction of water recovered. Some existing pretreatment technologies employ the concentration gradient between a feed and concentrate solution
(Donnan-dialysis) or direct ion-exchange with ion exchange resins (IEX). Although Donnan-Dialysis (D2) is an economical, simple technological, and energy-saving process, it is not applied widely in industry because of its slow kinetics. Here, it is proposed to accelerate the D2 kinetics by a Non-Isothermal D2 as a novel method beyond iso-thermal WATer pre-treatment for Energy Reduction
in desalination (NID2WATER) via recycling the waste heat as an additional driving force. The Fellow will, firstly, develop a nanofluidic chip and then a D2 stack with ion-selective membranes to investigate the NID2 fundamentally and practically, respectively. Then, he will perform a theoretical study to interpret rigorously the experimental data. The project will not only provide a solution for recycling the waste heat from desalination plants that is harmful to the marine environment but also enhance our understanding of thermoosmosis through electrically charged membranes. It is expected that the experimental and theoretical study will contribute to the applications of desalination in meeting world food and water demand and in recovering valuable metals from desalination brines.
(Donnan-dialysis) or direct ion-exchange with ion exchange resins (IEX). Although Donnan-Dialysis (D2) is an economical, simple technological, and energy-saving process, it is not applied widely in industry because of its slow kinetics. Here, it is proposed to accelerate the D2 kinetics by a Non-Isothermal D2 as a novel method beyond iso-thermal WATer pre-treatment for Energy Reduction
in desalination (NID2WATER) via recycling the waste heat as an additional driving force. The Fellow will, firstly, develop a nanofluidic chip and then a D2 stack with ion-selective membranes to investigate the NID2 fundamentally and practically, respectively. Then, he will perform a theoretical study to interpret rigorously the experimental data. The project will not only provide a solution for recycling the waste heat from desalination plants that is harmful to the marine environment but also enhance our understanding of thermoosmosis through electrically charged membranes. It is expected that the experimental and theoretical study will contribute to the applications of desalination in meeting world food and water demand and in recovering valuable metals from desalination brines.
| Title | Accurate temperature gradient control over membranes |
| Description | This research tool enables precise control of the temperature gradient across membranes. Equipped with in-line temperature and fluid sensors, it effectively regulates both the temperature and flow of solutions. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This tool promises to transform future research into harnessing waste heat from discarded resources. By enabling a deeper understanding of these processes, it will help us optimize designs for green electrical energy harvesting, water treatment, and the extraction of critical raw materials-all with minimal energy consumption and a reduced carbon footprint. |
| Description | Collaboration with Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Department | School of Chemical Engineering |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I provided the technical design for a novel microfluidic-nanofluidic chip, which is essential to the project. The project's novel design for the nanofluidic chip was interesting to the partners, who realized that their facilities and expertise could be extremely valuable for other applications such as fluid, heat, and ion transport through nanochannels. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The fabrication of the nanofluidic chip was a collaborative effort carried out at the School of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Physics. Professor Alex Robinson's group played a pivotal role, leveraging their expertise and cutting-edge facilities. They utilized a maskless aligner apparatus to print the nanochannel design onto a silicon wafer-a precise and cost-effective method that prepares the wafer for ion etching. Subsequently, their ion etcher, located in the Department of Physics, was used to etch the silicon to the desired nanometer-scale depth. To integrate the fabricated nanochannel with a microfluidic chip made of PDMS polymer, I collaborated with Dr. Gerard Cummins from the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Cummins oversees the clean room facilities at the School of Engineering, which are equipped with state-of-the-art tools. These advanced resources enabled me to fabricate the microchannels effectively. |
| Impact | This collaboration resulted in a novel microfluidic-nanofluidic system designed to enable in-depth studies of ion and heat transport through ultra-narrow channels (on the order of 50 nanometers). The project was a highly multidisciplinary effort, bringing together expertise from mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering, as well as physics. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I provided the technical design for a novel microfluidic-nanofluidic chip, which is essential to the project. The project's novel design for the nanofluidic chip was interesting to the partners, who realized that their facilities and expertise could be extremely valuable for other applications such as fluid, heat, and ion transport through nanochannels. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The fabrication of the nanofluidic chip was a collaborative effort carried out at the School of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Physics. Professor Alex Robinson's group played a pivotal role, leveraging their expertise and cutting-edge facilities. They utilized a maskless aligner apparatus to print the nanochannel design onto a silicon wafer-a precise and cost-effective method that prepares the wafer for ion etching. Subsequently, their ion etcher, located in the Department of Physics, was used to etch the silicon to the desired nanometer-scale depth. To integrate the fabricated nanochannel with a microfluidic chip made of PDMS polymer, I collaborated with Dr. Gerard Cummins from the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Cummins oversees the clean room facilities at the School of Engineering, which are equipped with state-of-the-art tools. These advanced resources enabled me to fabricate the microchannels effectively. |
| Impact | This collaboration resulted in a novel microfluidic-nanofluidic system designed to enable in-depth studies of ion and heat transport through ultra-narrow channels (on the order of 50 nanometers). The project was a highly multidisciplinary effort, bringing together expertise from mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering, as well as physics. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | 15th International Symposium on Electrokinetics (ELKIN2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I had the opportunity to visit leading scientists in this field and present my innovative idea. This visit proved highly beneficial, laying the groundwork for future collaborations with several research groups. During this time, I was also preparing a proposal for an ERC Starting Grant. The visit allowed me to share both my idea and the proposal with peers, who provided valuable feedback that significantly strengthened both. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |