Abstract Neutron radiography, a non-destructive imaging technique, is applied to study water and solute transport through desalination membranes. Specifically, we use neutron radiography to quantify lithium chloride draw solute concentrations across a thin-film composite membrane during forward osmosis permeation. This measurement provides direct visual confirmation of incomplete support layer wetting and reveals significant dilutive external concentration polarization of the draw solution outside of the membrane support layer. These transport-limiting phenomena have been hypothesized in previous work and are not accounted for in the standard thin-film model of forward osmosis permeation, resulting in inaccurate estimations of membrane transport properties. Our work demonstrates neutron radiography as a powerful measurement tool for studying membrane transport and emphasizes the need for direct experimental measurements to refine the forward osmosis transport model.

中文翻译：

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通过中子射线照相研究水和溶质通过海水淡化膜的传输

摘要 中子射线照相术是一种无损成像技术，用于研究水和溶质通过海水淡化膜的传输。具体来说，我们使用中子射线照相术来量化在正向渗透过程中穿过薄膜复合膜的氯化锂吸收溶质浓度。该测量提供了不完全支撑层润湿的直接视觉确认，并揭示了膜支撑层外部的汲取溶液的显着稀释外部浓差极化。这些传输限制现象在之前的工作中已经被假设，并且在正向渗透渗透的标准薄膜模型中没有考虑，导致对膜传输特性的不准确估计。