Internal concentration polarization (ICP) is a major issue in forward osmosis (FO) as it can significantly reduce the water flux in FO operations. It is known that a hydrophilic substrate and a smaller membrane structure parameter (S) are effective against ICP. This paper reports the development of a thin film composite (TFC) FO membrane with a hydrophilic mineral (CaCO3)-coated polyethersulfon...

We proposed a novel separation method, which is the first report using ion concentration polarization (ICP) to separate particles continuously. We analyzed the electrical forces that cause the repulsion of particles in the depletion region formed by ICP. Using the electrical repulsion, micro- and nano-sized particles were separated based on their electrophoretic mobilities. Because the separati...

The first experimental and theoretical evidence was provided for the non-negligible role of a diffusio-osmosis in the ion concentration polarization (ICP) layer, which had been reported to be in a high Peclet number regime. Under the assumption that the hydrated shells of cations were stripped out with the amplified electric field inside the ICP layer, its concentration profile possessed a stee...

One of the limiting factors in good performance of forward osmosis (FO) membranes is the internal concentration polarization (ICP). To reduce ICP, thin film nanocomposite forward osmosis (TFN-FO) membranes were fabricated by adding different amounts of graphene oxide (GO) nanoplates (0-1 wt. %) to polymer matrix of polysulfone (PSf) substrate. The prepared nanocomposite membranes exhibited both...

We consider electroconvective fluid flows initiated by ion concentration polarization (ICP) under pressure-driven shear flow, a scenario often found in many electrochemical devices and systems. Combining scaling analysis, experiment, and numerical modeling, we reveal unique behaviors of ICP under shear flow: a unidirectional vortex structure, its height selection, and vortex advection. Determin...

Internal concentration polarization (ICP) in forward osmosis (FO) process is a characteristic problem for asymmetric thin-film composite (TFC) FO membrane which leads to lower water flux. To mitigate the ICP effect, modification of the substrates' properties has been one of the most effective methods. A new polyethersulfone-based ultrafiltration membrane with increased surface porosity and high...

A simple method for microfluidic paper-based sample concentration using ion concentration polarization (ICP) with smartphone detection is developed. The concise and low-cost microfluidic paper-based ICP analytical device, which consists of a black backing layer, a nitrocellulose membrane, and two absorbent pads, is fabricated with the simple lamination method which is widely used for lateral fl...