This work aims at assessing the technical feasibility and performances of the Forward Osmosis (FO), an emergent desalination process. Two FO processes with different draw solutions have been studied: the first one is based on Ammonium Bicarbonate (AB) and the second on poly (propylene glycol-ran-ethylene glycol) monobutyl ethers (PAGBs) with different molecular weight. The two solutes have different regeneration steps, but they adopt the same membrane separation process of the salt water. The comparison between the different processes is given in terms of recovery ratio, temperature and energy requirements. AB could be regenerated through column distillation at 99.63 °C and zeolite filter, while PAGBs could be regenerated at lower temperatures (77.2 – 83.6 °C) through gravity separation followed by a final step of nanofiltration. This study showed that PAGBs have great potential to desalinate water in an energy-efficient way, reaching minimum consumptions of 39.5 kWhth/m³ and 0.5 kWhel/m³, even if the water recovery is not so high (< 24%). On the contrary, AB has shown higher energy consumptions (> 3.51 kWhel/m³, > 442 kWhth/m³). Finally, a comparison based on energy consumptions and recovery ratio with the mature desalination technologies is provided, showing the potentialities of the process when low temperature heat is available.

这项工作旨在评估正向渗透 (FO)（一种紧急脱盐过程）的技术可行性和性能。已经研究了具有不同汲取溶液的两种 FO 工艺：第一种基于碳酸氢铵 (AB)，第二种基于具有不同分子量的聚（丙二醇-ran-乙二醇）单丁醚 (PAGB)。两种溶质的再生步骤不同，但采用相同的盐水膜分离工艺。在回收率、温度和能量要求方面给出了不同工艺之间的比较。AB 可以通过 99.63 °C 的塔式蒸馏和沸石过滤器再生，而 PAGB 可以通过重力分离和最后一步纳滤在较低温度（77.2 – 83.6 °C）下再生。³和 0.5 kWhel/m ³，即使水回收率不那么高 (< 24%)。相反，AB 显示出更高的能耗（> 3.51 kWhel/m ³，> 442 kWhth/m ³）。最后，根据能耗和回收率与成熟的海水淡化技术进行了比较，展示了该工艺在低温热可用时的潜力。