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Thin‐film composite (TFC) forward‐osmosis (FO) membranes were developed on different woven and nonwoven backing fabrics as support. Embedded backing fabrics have a significant effect on the membrane film sublayer by imparting porosity, membrane mechanical strength, and thickness. Woven and nonwoven backing fabric supports have been used for FO membranes cast on the commercial scale. There are also a few studies on the laboratory scale, but repeating them seems to be a challenge. The results herein show that TFC membranes with nonwoven incorporated substrates gain a higher water flux while keeping the specific reverse salt flux low.

This paper presents the performance of aquaporin forward osmosis membrane using chemical fertilizers as a draw solution. The comprehensive evaluation conducted for five conventional fertilizers ((CO (NH2)2, KCl, CaCl2, (NH4)2SO4) and (NH4)2HPO4) as draw solutions. The diluted fertilizer can be used directly for farming as fertigation. In this process, DSs do not need to be recovered and it is a single step desalination process. The data include the characterization of the intrinsic properties of the membrane samples and their performance under FO and PRO modes of operations. In addition, the data for various draw solution concentration under feed solution with deferent total dissolved solids (TDS) were evaluated. For example, a water flux of 17.5 L m− 2 h− 1 and 23.92 g m−2 h−1 reverse solute flux (RSF) was achieved under the FO operation mode for 3 M KCl.

This study describes the fabrication of sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) as a super-hydrophilic substrate for developing a composite forward osmosis (FO) membrane on a nonwoven backing fabric support. SPES was prepared through an indirect sulfonation procedure and then blended with PES at a certain ratio. Applying SPES as the substrate affected membrane properties, such as porosity, total thickness, morphology, and hydrophilicity. The PES-based FO membrane with a finger-like structure had lower performance in comparison with the SPES based FO membrane having a sponge-like structure. The finger-like morphology changed to a sponge-like morphology with the increase in the SPES concentration. The FO membrane based on a more hydrophilic substrate via sulfonation had a sponge morphology and showed better water flux results. Water flux of 26.1 L m−2 h−1 and specific reverse solute flux of 0.66 g L−1 were attained at a SPES blend ratio of 50 wt.% when 3 M NaCl was used as the draw solution and DI water as feed solution under the FO mode. This work offers significant insights into understanding the factors affecting FO membrane performance, such as porosity and functionality.