Understanding water and solute transport in thin film nanocomposite membranes by resistance-in-series theory combined with Monte Carlo simulation

The lack of mechanistic insights into the water and solute transport in thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane active layer posed a major challenge fundamental understandings performance optimization such membranes treatment. In this work, we develop novel model to qualitatively quantitatively study influence intrinsic permeabilities geometric parameters NPs NPs-polymer intermediate on widely observed flux enhancement TFN based resistance-in-series theory Monte Carlo simulation. simulation results demonstrate small amount porous or even non-porous addition would result significant increase due either high NP permeability, combined effects abovementioned factors. Besides, find that an optimized combination mass loading size, thicker with minimized aggregation are preferred achieve permeate flux. This can be used predict provide guidance engineering next-generation as well improved rejections, tackle acknowledged problem rejection trade-off. • A for was developed. Resistance-in-series were applied work. effect properties firstly investigated. Higher density higher permeability preferred. Thicker