Forward Osmosis

History, ancient and recent, &

Some successful viable applications

John O. Kessler, physics dept, University of Arizona, Tucson

kessler@physics.arizona.edu

 "Carchorodon megalodon, Helicoprion

and Edestus" prehistoric practitioners of FO

And heres a more recent expert in FO: Using seawater

diffusing through semipermeable gill/mouth membranes
as the source of fresh water

The basis of FO to the sharks blood:

urea and triethylamine oxide (TMAO)

Like other sharks, the Great White's bodily fluids also contain small organic
molecules. Among the most important of these from an osmotic standpoint
are
urea and trimethylamine oxide (or TMAO, for short). Both urea and TMAO
are nitrogen-containing break-down products of protein metabolism. Urea is
highly toxic to living tissue at moderate to high concentrations, causing
proteins to de-stabilize and thus cease to function properly or at all. That is
why, although we can tolerate 'holding it' for a little while, we must eventually
excrete urea or face dire physiological consequences. Yet sharks routinely
retain bodily concentrations of urea that would kill most other vertebrates.
This is largely due to the presence of even higher bodily concentrations of
TMAO, which counters the protein-de-stabilizing effects of urea.
Together, urea and TMAO add substantially to a shark's osmotic pressure,
effectively rendering the internal fluids slightly (about 5%) 'saltier' than the
external environment. As a result, sharks do not need to invest any
metabolic effort toward obtaining the water their bodies need. A constant
supply of fresh water osmoses passively into a shark's body
through the gills and other exposed membranes.

Dunaliella salina, a halophyte alga that uses synthesis of

glycerol to match osmolarity of exterior salt concentration,
even when it increases, e.g. due to evaporation.
BUT, when the exterior salt concentration drops, Dunaliella
can metabolize and/or discharge glycerol.

Dunaliella in sea water

Dunaliella produce glycerol and carotenes,

the cause of reddish color in conc. brine ponds.

Note crystal of salt:

they can cope!

?from
sharks & algae to irrigation?
____________________________________________________
_

Tracing flow of
ideas
and 1970
action

Sharks Urea
hmmm

Fertilizer
Have membrane?

FDFO
Fertilizer-driven forward osmosis

Have brackish
Arizona agriculture needs:
Conversion of brackish water
to water usable for irrigation

Together
with
ChuckMoody
Chuck
Moody
Bob Riley
Bob Riley

Unbacked
cellulose acetate
membranes

Well, it
it worked!
worked!
Well,

Then Chuck Moody went to Peace Corps. When he

returned we renewed this R&D, with matching grant
($15K) from OWRT (office of water research and
technology), and help from Univ Az VP Research, Dick
Kassander

From FDFO to Sugar Pi

Using fertilizer solution as a driver: large scale application

What about powdered nutrient FO Driving Solution?

Interesting: Calorie and water requirements well matched!

hmmmm~lifeboats, infiltrators, lost souls

SO inquiry at US Navy..BUMMER! nyet.. no $$.

( they said exposure bigger problem than thirst!!)

__________________________________________________________

Oh well, on to science, efficiency, new application

The next phase: problems, new approaches

Recyclable driving (=draw) solutes

Concentration polarization (boundary layers)
How to eliminate?
Stirring? Flow cycles?
Membrane degradation, membrane design!
etc, etc and etc!
(and getting others, here, elsewhere to read about, notice our work!)

Throughout Chuck Moody and Bob Riley have put

in years of skill, hard work, insight and progress.