3D Printing for Membrane Module Applications

Abstract

The water-energy crisis has become the severe issue of the world for the last few decades as a result of the global warming’s effects which leaded the sea water desalination to be the frontier solution. Although there are many ways to desalinate the sea water, the desalination technologies have recently focused on the membrane treatment methods due to their energy harvesting properties with high treatment performance. On the other hand, one of the vital issue for the water desalination membranes: membrane fouling has increased the researches related to the membrane modules. Here, we use the de novo technology, 3D printing for the bespoke production of membrane spacers and supports, which will also allow us to practically change the shape and optimize the water flux-fouling nexus and see the effects of shear stress and material physical properties to mitigate fouling.