Lecture: Emerging Membranes and Membrane Processes for Desalination and Water Reclamation 

Lecturer: Dr. Chuyang Y. Tang, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 

Time: 9:30 am, Dec 8, 2015 

Location: Meeting Room 205 of Administration Building 

Introduction of Lecturer: 

BEng, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 

MEng, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 

PhD, Stanford University   

Research Interests 

• Membrane technology
• Desalination
• Water treatment and wastewater reclamation
• Resource recovery from waste and wastewater
• Clean energy production/recovery
• Nano-/bio-technology enhanced separation
• Water chemistry  

Representative Research / Consultancy Projects 

• Novel membrane materials and processes
• Water chemistry in membrane processes
• Biomimetic membrane synthesis and characterization  

Representative Publications 

Book Chapters: 

1.    A.G. Fane, C.Y. Tang, R. Wang, Membrane Technology for Water: Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, and Reverse Osmosis, in: P. Wilderer (Ed.) Treatise on Water Science, 3Academic Press, Oxford, 2011, pp. 301-335. 

2.    F. Wicaksana, A.G. Fane, C.Y. Tang, R. Wang, Forward Osmosis: Theory, Membranes, and Applications (Chapter 2), in: C. Helix-Nielsen (Ed.) Biomimetic Membrane for Sensor and Separation Applications, Springer, 2012, pp 21-42. 

Journal Papers: 

1. Y. Zhao, A. Vararattanavech, X. Li, C. Hélix-Nielsen, T. Vissing, J. Torres, R. Wang, A.G. Fane, C.Y. Tang, Effects of proteoliposome composition and draw solution types on separation performance of aquaporin-based proteoliposomes: Implications for seawater desalination using aquaporin-based biomimetic membranes, Environmental Science & Technology, 47 (2013) 1496-1503. 

2. X. Liu, S. Qi, Y. Li, L. Yang, B. Cao, C.Y. Tang*, Synthesis and characterization of novel antibacterial silver nanocomposite nanofiltration and forward osmosis membranes based on layer-by-layer assembly, Water Research, 47 (2013) 3081-3092. 

3. Y. Gu, Y.N. Wang, J. Wei, C.Y. Tang, Organic Fouling of Thin-film Composite Polyamide and Cellulose Triacetate Forward Osmosis Membranes by Oppositely Charged Macromolecules, Water Research, 47 (2013) 1867-1874. 

4. W. Li, W.B. Krantz, E.R. Cornelissen, J.W. Post, A.R.D. Verliefde, C.Y. Tang, A Novel Hybrid Process of Reverse Electrodialysis and Reverse Osmosis for Low Energy Seawater Desalination and Brine Management, Applied Energy, 104 (2013) 592-602. 

5. Q. She, D. Hou, J. Liu, K.H. Tan, C.Y. Tang, Effect of feed spacer induced membrane deformation on the performance of pressure retarded osmosis (PRO): implications for PRO process operation, Journal of Membrane Science, 445 (2013) 170-182. 

6. J. Nikkola, X. Liu, Y. Li, M. Raulio, H.-L. Alakomi, J. Wei, C.Y. Tang, Surface Modification of Thin Film Composite RO Membrane for Enhanced Anti-Biofouling Performance, Journal of Membrane Science, 444 (2013) 192-200. 

7. N. Ma, J. Wei, S. Qi, Z. Zhao, Y. Gao, C.Y. Tang, Nanocomposite substrates for controlling internal concentration polarization in forward osmosis membranes, Journal of Membrane Science, 441 (2013) 54-62. 

8. S. Zou, Y. Wang, F. Wicaksana, T. Aung, P.C.Y. Wong, A.G. Fane, C.Y. Tang, Direct microscopic observation of forward osmosis membrane fouling by microalgae: Critical flux and the role of operational conditions, Journal of Membrane Science, 436 (2013) 174-185. 

9. Q. She, Y.K.W. Wong, S. Zhao, C.Y. Tang, Organic fouling in pressure retarded osmosis: Experiments, mechanisms, and implications, Journal of Membrane Science, 428 (2013) 181-189. 

10. J. Wei, C. Qiu, Y. Wang, R. Wang, C.Y. Tang, Comparison of NF-like and RO-like thin film composite osmotically-driven membranes - Implications for membrane selection and process optimization, Journal of Membrane Science, 427 (2013) 460-471. 

Lecture Abstract:  

Membrane technology is increasingly used in water, wastewater, and energy applications. Pressure-driven membrane processes, such as microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO), have received great attention, fuelled by the increasing needs for water purification, wastewater reclamation, and seawater desalination. In parallel, many novel membranes (e.g., nanocomposite membranes and biomimetic membranes) and membrane processes (e.g., forward osmosis based membrane bioreactor) are being developed. This presentation will highlight some latest developments in membrane technology used for desalination, water reclamation, emerging contaminants removal, energy harvesting, and resource recovery. Perspectives on the future development directions will be discussed.