We work on multiple areas of water separation processes to address critical challenges in sustainability at the nexus between water, energy, and food. We have experimental and theoretical expertise in the following unit processes:
Resource Extraction and Recovery
We work on membrane-based and electrochemical processes (e.g., nanofiltration, electrodialysis, and electro-sorption) to selectively separate target solutes from an aqueous solution. Example applications include extraction of critical minerals from various brines and recovery of nutrients from wastewater, which are critical to resource sustainability. Recently, we are particularly interested in electrochemical selective separation and will have important progress to share in the coming years.
Representative publications:
Brine Management
Sustainable brine management is a critical challenge in multiple industries for minimizing the environmental impacts and/or water footprints of multiple industries. To address this challenge, we develop novel processes and materials to enable more cost-effective treatment of hypersaline brines to achieve minimal or zero liquid discharge. We have worked extensively on membrane distillation aiming to achieve minimal or zero liquid discharge using low-grade heat. Currently, we are working on electrodialytic crystallization (EDC)—a process developed in our group—and integrated nanofiltration/reverse osmosis (INFRO) to achieve non-evaporative minimal or zero liquid discharge.
Representative publications:
Desalination and Water Reuse
We develop energy efficient and operationally robust processes for desalination and water treatment to enable the augmentation of water supply via tapping into unconventional sources (e.g., seawater, brackish water, wastewater). We are particularly interested in performing physical model-based analyses to understand the limits of treatment processes and to identify approaches for optimization and performance enhancement.
Representative publications:
- Reverse osmosis/nanofiltration
- Forward osmosis
- Electro-sorption and capacitive deionization
- Electrodialysis (and bipolar membrane electrodialysis)
- Membrane distillation
- Integrated processes
Resource Extraction and Recovery
We work on membrane-based and electrochemical processes (e.g., nanofiltration, electrodialysis, and electro-sorption) to selectively separate target solutes from an aqueous solution. Example applications include extraction of critical minerals from various brines and recovery of nutrients from wastewater, which are critical to resource sustainability. Recently, we are particularly interested in electrochemical selective separation and will have important progress to share in the coming years.
Representative publications:
- Wang R., et. al., Nature Water, 1, 2023, 291 (PDF)
- Wang R., et. al., Environ. Sci. Technol., 57, 2023, 14464 (PDF)
- Li Y., et. al., Environ. Sci. Technol., 55, 2021, 14886 (PDF)
- Liang Y., et. al., Nature Comm., 11, 2020, #2015 (PDF)
Brine Management
Sustainable brine management is a critical challenge in multiple industries for minimizing the environmental impacts and/or water footprints of multiple industries. To address this challenge, we develop novel processes and materials to enable more cost-effective treatment of hypersaline brines to achieve minimal or zero liquid discharge. We have worked extensively on membrane distillation aiming to achieve minimal or zero liquid discharge using low-grade heat. Currently, we are working on electrodialytic crystallization (EDC)—a process developed in our group—and integrated nanofiltration/reverse osmosis (INFRO) to achieve non-evaporative minimal or zero liquid discharge.
Representative publications:
- Zhang X., et. al., Nature Water, 1, 2023, 547 (PDF)
- Wang R. and Lin S., ACS EST Engg., 2, 2022, 1491(PDF)
- Horseman, T., et. al., ACS ES&T Engg., 1, 2021, 117(PDF)
- Su C., et. al., Environ. Sci. Technol., 53, 2019, 11801(PDF)
- Horseman, T., et. al., Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett., 6, 2019, 423 (PDF)
Desalination and Water Reuse
We develop energy efficient and operationally robust processes for desalination and water treatment to enable the augmentation of water supply via tapping into unconventional sources (e.g., seawater, brackish water, wastewater). We are particularly interested in performing physical model-based analyses to understand the limits of treatment processes and to identify approaches for optimization and performance enhancement.
Representative publications:
- Lin, S., Environ. Sci. Technol. 54, 2020, 76 (PDF)
- Wang Z. et. al., Science Adv.1. 5, 2019, eaax0763 (PDF)
- Wang L. et. al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 53, 2019, 5797 (PDF)
- Wang L. et. al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 53, 2019, 3366 (PDF)
- Wang L. et. al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 52, 2018, 4051 (PDF)