Sterlitech (Kent, Wash.) now offers Aquaporin hollow fiber membrane modules for forward osmosis studies. TheSource: Sterlitech cross flow AQP HFFO2 membrane module contains Aquaporin Inside™ hollow fiber membranes.

With an Aquaporin Inside™ coating on the interior surface of the hollow fibers (lumen side), the feed solution is circulated in the lumen and the draw solution is circulated in the shell. The technology is based on the aquaporin protein, nature's own selective and extremely effective water channel.

Forward osmosis, also known as engineered osmosis, is a membrane separation process that takes advantage of the pressure gradient between two solutions of different concentrations to move the solvent from one side of the membrane to the other. The process requires much lower operating pressures than other membrane technologies (such as reverse osmosis) and, consequently, has lower energy requirements.

Applications include concentration of valuable components, pre-treatment of difficult wastewater before reverse osmosis treatment and zero or minimal liquid discharge processes.

Units feature wall thickness of 35µm and inner diameter of 195µm, and come with a membrane active area of 2.3 m². The modules are 300 mm long and 70 mm in diameter.