1. Membrane-based Processes for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
Industrial activities consume substantial amounts of freshwater while generating vast quantities of wastewater. Recently, recovery and recycling of industrial wastewater has become increasingly important to achieve circular water economy due to the rising water demand. Membrane-based processes, such as reverse osmosis (RO), membrane distillation (MD), and electrodialysis (ED) can play a key role in industrial wastewater treatment and reuse. However, the complexity of industrial wastewater limits the water recoveries and energy efficiencies of these technologies. In the Tong lab, we are working on developing novel membrane materials and processes to improve the performance of membrane technologies in treating typical industrial wastewater. We are especially interested in the treatment of hypersaline brines, which is currently cost- and energy intensive. An relevant example is the produced water from shale oil and gas production, which is active in the state of Colorado. We are fabricating and testing novel membrane materials that are resistant to fouling and scaling during the treatment process, and designing effective pre-treatment processes to lower the fouling and scaling potentials of the produced water.
Representative publications:
1. Du, X., Zhang, Z., Carlson, K.H., Lee, J., Tong, T.* (2018) Membrane fouling and reusability in membrane distillation of shale oil and gas produced water: Effects of membrane surface wettability. Journal of Membrane Science, 567, 199-208.
2. Robbins, C.A., Grauberger, B., Garland S., Carlson, K.H., Lin, S., Bandhauer, T.*, Tong, T.* (2020) On-site treatment capacity of membrane distillation powered by waste heat or natural gas for unconventional oil and gas production in the Denver-Julesburg Basin. Environment International, 145, 106142.
3. Robbins, C.A., Carlson, K.H., Garland S., Bandhauer, T., Grauberger, B., Tong, T.* (2021) Spatial analysis of membrane distillation powered by waste heat from natural gas compressor stations for unconventional oil and gas wastewater treatment in Weld County, Colorado. ACS ES&T Engineering, 1, 2, 192-203.
Industrial activities consume substantial amounts of freshwater while generating vast quantities of wastewater. Recently, recovery and recycling of industrial wastewater has become increasingly important to achieve circular water economy due to the rising water demand. Membrane-based processes, such as reverse osmosis (RO), membrane distillation (MD), and electrodialysis (ED) can play a key role in industrial wastewater treatment and reuse. However, the complexity of industrial wastewater limits the water recoveries and energy efficiencies of these technologies. In the Tong lab, we are working on developing novel membrane materials and processes to improve the performance of membrane technologies in treating typical industrial wastewater. We are especially interested in the treatment of hypersaline brines, which is currently cost- and energy intensive. An relevant example is the produced water from shale oil and gas production, which is active in the state of Colorado. We are fabricating and testing novel membrane materials that are resistant to fouling and scaling during the treatment process, and designing effective pre-treatment processes to lower the fouling and scaling potentials of the produced water.
Representative publications:
1. Du, X., Zhang, Z., Carlson, K.H., Lee, J., Tong, T.* (2018) Membrane fouling and reusability in membrane distillation of shale oil and gas produced water: Effects of membrane surface wettability. Journal of Membrane Science, 567, 199-208.
2. Robbins, C.A., Grauberger, B., Garland S., Carlson, K.H., Lin, S., Bandhauer, T.*, Tong, T.* (2020) On-site treatment capacity of membrane distillation powered by waste heat or natural gas for unconventional oil and gas production in the Denver-Julesburg Basin. Environment International, 145, 106142.
3. Robbins, C.A., Carlson, K.H., Garland S., Bandhauer, T., Grauberger, B., Tong, T.* (2021) Spatial analysis of membrane distillation powered by waste heat from natural gas compressor stations for unconventional oil and gas wastewater treatment in Weld County, Colorado. ACS ES&T Engineering, 1, 2, 192-203.
2. Mitigation of mineral scaling to improve resiliency of membrane desalination
Mineral scaling is a primary barrier that constrains the performance of membrane desalination. As feedwaters are concentrated during desalination processes, solute concentrations can exceed the solubility of certain sparingly soluble solids. The subsequent precipitation of mineral scales on the membrane surface reduces water productivity and membrane lifespan, and compromises the cost and energy efficiencies of membrane desalination. However, as compared to extensive progress made on understanding and controlling organic and biological fouling, our knowledge on mineral scaling is limited and current strategies of scaling mitigation is costly and ineffective. Therefore, the Tong lab is working on promoting the knowledge on the mechanisms underlying mineral scaling in membrane desalination, and developing new strategies to reduce membrane scaling. In particular, we are combining interdisciplinary expertise in membrane separation, aquatic chemistry, geochemistry, and biomineralization to investigate the mechanisms associated with the formation of mineral scales at the membrane-water interface. The resultant findings will guide our long-term efforts to design and develop new membrane materials with improved resistance to mineral scaling.
Representative publications:
1. Quay, A.N., Tong, T.*, Hashmi, S., Zhou, Y., Zhao, S., Elimelech, M.* (2018) Combined organic fouling and inorganic scaling in reverse osmosis: Role of protein-silica interactions. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(16), 9145-9153.
2. Tong, T.*, Wallace, A.F.*, Zhao, S*, and Wang, Z.* (2019) Mineral scaling in membrane desalination: mechanisms, mitigation strategies, and feasibility of scaling-resistant membranes. Journal of Membrane Science, 579, 52-69.
3. Yin, Y., Jeong, N., Tong, T.* (2020) The effects of membrane surface wettability on pore wetting and scaling reversibility associated with mineral scaling in membrane distillation. Journal of Membrane Science, 614, 118503.
4. Christie, K.S.S., Yin, Y., Lin, S.*, Tong, T*. (2020) Distinct behaviors between gypsum and silica scaling in membrane distillation. Environmental Science & Technology, 54, 568-576.
5. Yin, Y., Jeong, N., Minjarez, R., Robbins, C.A., Carlson, K.H., Tong, T.* (2021). Contrasting behaviors between gypsum and silica scaling in the presence of anti-scalants during membrane distillation. Environmental Science & Technology, 55, 8, 5335-5346.
Mineral scaling is a primary barrier that constrains the performance of membrane desalination. As feedwaters are concentrated during desalination processes, solute concentrations can exceed the solubility of certain sparingly soluble solids. The subsequent precipitation of mineral scales on the membrane surface reduces water productivity and membrane lifespan, and compromises the cost and energy efficiencies of membrane desalination. However, as compared to extensive progress made on understanding and controlling organic and biological fouling, our knowledge on mineral scaling is limited and current strategies of scaling mitigation is costly and ineffective. Therefore, the Tong lab is working on promoting the knowledge on the mechanisms underlying mineral scaling in membrane desalination, and developing new strategies to reduce membrane scaling. In particular, we are combining interdisciplinary expertise in membrane separation, aquatic chemistry, geochemistry, and biomineralization to investigate the mechanisms associated with the formation of mineral scales at the membrane-water interface. The resultant findings will guide our long-term efforts to design and develop new membrane materials with improved resistance to mineral scaling.
Representative publications:
1. Quay, A.N., Tong, T.*, Hashmi, S., Zhou, Y., Zhao, S., Elimelech, M.* (2018) Combined organic fouling and inorganic scaling in reverse osmosis: Role of protein-silica interactions. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(16), 9145-9153.
2. Tong, T.*, Wallace, A.F.*, Zhao, S*, and Wang, Z.* (2019) Mineral scaling in membrane desalination: mechanisms, mitigation strategies, and feasibility of scaling-resistant membranes. Journal of Membrane Science, 579, 52-69.
3. Yin, Y., Jeong, N., Tong, T.* (2020) The effects of membrane surface wettability on pore wetting and scaling reversibility associated with mineral scaling in membrane distillation. Journal of Membrane Science, 614, 118503.
4. Christie, K.S.S., Yin, Y., Lin, S.*, Tong, T*. (2020) Distinct behaviors between gypsum and silica scaling in membrane distillation. Environmental Science & Technology, 54, 568-576.
5. Yin, Y., Jeong, N., Minjarez, R., Robbins, C.A., Carlson, K.H., Tong, T.* (2021). Contrasting behaviors between gypsum and silica scaling in the presence of anti-scalants during membrane distillation. Environmental Science & Technology, 55, 8, 5335-5346.
3. Smart design of membranes via tuning membrane surface properties
Membranes are the core component of membrane desalination systems, and high-performance membranes adaptive to complex feedwater composition are the key to improve the economic feasibility of membrane desalination. In our lab, we are designing smart membranes via tuning membrane surface properties such as hydrophilicity, texture, surface charge, and surface energy. By doing so, we are able to create membranes possessing exceptional fouling/scaling/wetting resistance for various membrane desalination technologies. Especially, our recent work (Nature Communications, 2019, 10, 3220) indicates that a trade-off exists between wetting resistance and water vapor permeability in membrane distillation. Thus, we are attempting to design and fabricate membranes with both high wetting resistance and water vapor permeability. Also, we are currently working on developing scaling-resistant membranes, which have not received as sufficient attention as fouling-resistant membranes.
Representative publications:
1. Wang, W., Du, X., Vahabi, H., Zhao, S., Yin, Y., Kota, A.K.*, Tong, T.* (2019) Trade-off in membrane distillation with monolithic omniphobic membranes. Nature Communications, 10, 3220.
2. Li, C., Li, X., Du, X., Zhang, Y., Wang, W., Tong, T., Kota, A.K., Lee, J. (2020) Elucidating the trade-off between membrane wetting resistance and water vapor flux in membrane distillation. Environmental Science & Technology, 54, 16, 10333–10341.
Membranes are the core component of membrane desalination systems, and high-performance membranes adaptive to complex feedwater composition are the key to improve the economic feasibility of membrane desalination. In our lab, we are designing smart membranes via tuning membrane surface properties such as hydrophilicity, texture, surface charge, and surface energy. By doing so, we are able to create membranes possessing exceptional fouling/scaling/wetting resistance for various membrane desalination technologies. Especially, our recent work (Nature Communications, 2019, 10, 3220) indicates that a trade-off exists between wetting resistance and water vapor permeability in membrane distillation. Thus, we are attempting to design and fabricate membranes with both high wetting resistance and water vapor permeability. Also, we are currently working on developing scaling-resistant membranes, which have not received as sufficient attention as fouling-resistant membranes.
Representative publications:
1. Wang, W., Du, X., Vahabi, H., Zhao, S., Yin, Y., Kota, A.K.*, Tong, T.* (2019) Trade-off in membrane distillation with monolithic omniphobic membranes. Nature Communications, 10, 3220.
2. Li, C., Li, X., Du, X., Zhang, Y., Wang, W., Tong, T., Kota, A.K., Lee, J. (2020) Elucidating the trade-off between membrane wetting resistance and water vapor flux in membrane distillation. Environmental Science & Technology, 54, 16, 10333–10341.
4. Applying data-driven approaches to promote water sustainability
The rise of the big-data era provides more avenues to build more efficient, agile, and smarter systems that improve water sustainability. The combination of computer and data sciences with environmental science and engineering has the potential to greatly enhance our capability to engage with the complexity of water and wastewater reuse systems. We are integrating publicly available databases and geographic information system (GIS) tools (1) to investigate the water footprint of unconventional oil and gas production under various hydroclimate conditions and (2) to evaluate the feasibility of using waste heat for produced water treatment from a systems engineering perspective. Such efforts provide quantitative information for policy makers and engineers for water resource management and technology development. We are also applying machine learning to predicting the performance of membrane materials for pollutant removal and exploring the fundamental structure-property-performance relationship for membrane separation, in order to understand the mechanisms of solute transport and guide the design of membranes with improved solute-solute selectivity.
Representative publications:
1. Du, X., Li, H., Robbins, C.A., Carlson, K.H., Tong, T.* (2021) Activity and Water Footprint of Unconventional Energy Production under Hydroclimate Variation in Colorado. ACS ES&T Water, 1, 2, 281-290.
2. Robbins, C.A., Carlson, K.H., Garland S., Bandhauer, T., Grauberger, B., Tong, T.* (2021) Spatial analysis of membrane distillation powered by waste heat from natural gas compressor stations for unconventional oil and gas wastewater treatment in Weld County, Colorado. ACS ES&T Engineering, 1, 2, 192-203.
3. Jeong, N., Chung, T., and Tong, T.* (2021) Predicting Micropollutant Removal by Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membranes: Is Machine Learning Viable? Environmental Science & Technology, 55, 16, 11348-11359.
The rise of the big-data era provides more avenues to build more efficient, agile, and smarter systems that improve water sustainability. The combination of computer and data sciences with environmental science and engineering has the potential to greatly enhance our capability to engage with the complexity of water and wastewater reuse systems. We are integrating publicly available databases and geographic information system (GIS) tools (1) to investigate the water footprint of unconventional oil and gas production under various hydroclimate conditions and (2) to evaluate the feasibility of using waste heat for produced water treatment from a systems engineering perspective. Such efforts provide quantitative information for policy makers and engineers for water resource management and technology development. We are also applying machine learning to predicting the performance of membrane materials for pollutant removal and exploring the fundamental structure-property-performance relationship for membrane separation, in order to understand the mechanisms of solute transport and guide the design of membranes with improved solute-solute selectivity.
Representative publications:
1. Du, X., Li, H., Robbins, C.A., Carlson, K.H., Tong, T.* (2021) Activity and Water Footprint of Unconventional Energy Production under Hydroclimate Variation in Colorado. ACS ES&T Water, 1, 2, 281-290.
2. Robbins, C.A., Carlson, K.H., Garland S., Bandhauer, T., Grauberger, B., Tong, T.* (2021) Spatial analysis of membrane distillation powered by waste heat from natural gas compressor stations for unconventional oil and gas wastewater treatment in Weld County, Colorado. ACS ES&T Engineering, 1, 2, 192-203.
3. Jeong, N., Chung, T., and Tong, T.* (2021) Predicting Micropollutant Removal by Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membranes: Is Machine Learning Viable? Environmental Science & Technology, 55, 16, 11348-11359.