ABSTRACT
Forward osmosis (FO) has been extensively investigated in the past decade for desalination as well as water recovery. Despite significant advancements in our understanding of the FO process, questions and challenges remain regarding the energy efficiency and current state of the membrane technology. In this chapter, all components of the FO process—the various feed solutions, the criteria for selecting draw solute, recovery aspects of the draw solutes, and the technological advancement in the preparation of novel membranes—are explored. The role of electrospinning to improve the base membrane's performance and the addition of nanomaterials to tune the selective polyamide layer are also discussed. The advantages of employing FO as a suitable alternative for water recovery, as well as its limitations, economics, and sustainability, are also addressed.
