Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Membrane Processes for the Regeneration of Liquid Desiccant Solution for Air Conditioning

  • Water Pollution (G Toor and L Nghiem, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Pollution Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions is critical for the liquid desiccant air conditioning (LDAC) process. In most LDAC systems, the weak desiccant solution is regenerated using the energy-intensive thermal evaporation method which suffers from desiccant carry-over. Recently, membrane processes have gained increasing interest as a promising method for liquid desiccant solution regeneration. This paper provides a comprehensive review on the applications of membrane processes for regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions. Fundamental knowledge, working principles, and the applications of four key membrane processes (e.g., reverse osmosis (RO), forward osmosis (FO), electrodialysis (ED), and membrane distillation (MD)) are discussed to shed light on their feasibility for liquid desiccant solution regeneration and the associated challenges.

Recent Findings

RO is effective at preventing desiccant carry-over; however, current RO membranes are not compatible with hypersaline liquid desiccant solutions. FO deploys a concentrated draw solution to overcome the high osmotic pressure of liquid desiccant solutions; hence, it is feasible for their regeneration despite the issues with internal/external concentration polarization and reverse salt flux. ED has proven its technical feasibility for liquid desiccant solution regeneration; nevertheless, more research into the process energy efficiency and the recycling of spent solution are recommended. Finally, as a thermally driven process, MD is capable of regenerating liquid desiccant solutions, but it is adversely affected by the polarization effects associated with the hypersalinity of the solutions.

Summary

Extensive studies are required to realize the applications of membrane processes for the regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions used for LDAC systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. • Yon HR, Cai W, Wang Y, Shen S. Performance investigation on a novel liquid desiccant regeneration system operating in vacuum condition. Appl Energy. 2018;211:249–58 This article highlights the challenges of the air conditioner industry with respect to environmental protection and energy consumption reduction.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. •• Gómez-Castro FM, Schneider D, Päßler T, Eicker U. Review of indirect and direct solar thermal regeneration for liquid desiccant systems. Renew Sust Energ Rev. 2018;82:545–75 This review paper provides an insight into the regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions using conventional thermal distillation methods.

    Google Scholar 

  3. •• Rafique MM, Gandhidasan P, Bahaidarah HMS. Liquid desiccant materials and dehumidifiers – a review. Renew Sust Energ Rev. 2016;56:179–95 This article provides a comprehensive review on liquid desiccant solutions and processes for air dehumidification.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cheng Q, Zhang X. Review of solar regeneration methods for liquid desiccant air-conditioning system. Energ Buildings. 2013;67:426–33.

    Google Scholar 

  5. • Shukla DL, Modi KV. A technical review on regeneration of liquid desiccant using solar energy. Renew Sust Energ Rev. 2017;78:517–29 This article highlights the importance of reduction in the energy consumption of liquid desiccant solution regeneration.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. McNevin C, Harrison SJ. Multi-stage liquid-desiccant air-conditioner: experimental performance and model development. Build Environ. 2017;114:45–55.

    Google Scholar 

  7. •• Fu H-X, Liu X-H. Review of the impact of liquid desiccant dehumidification on indoor air quality. Build Environ. 2017;116:158–72 This article reviews the impact of liquid desiccant dehumidification on indoor air quality and stresses the issue associated with the desiccant carry-over during the regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Fekadu G, Subudhi S. Renewable energy for liquid desiccants air conditioning system: a review. Renew Sust Energ Rev. 2018;93:364–79.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Cheng Q, Xu W. Performance analysis of a novel multi-function liquid desiccant regeneration system for liquid desiccant air-conditioning system. Energy. 2017;140:240–52.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Abdel-Salam AH, Simonson CJ. State-of-the-art in liquid desiccant air conditioning equipment and systems. Renew Sust Energ Rev. 2016;58:1152–83.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Yin Y, Qian J, Zhang X. Recent advancements in liquid desiccant dehumidification technology. Renew Sust Energ Rev. 2014;31:38–52.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Yon HR, Cai W, Wang Y, Shen S. Performance investigation on a novel liquid desiccant regeneration system operating in vacuum condition. Appl Energy. 2018;211:249–58.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. •• Duong HC, Hai FI, Al-Jubainawi A, Ma Z, He T, Nghiem LD. Liquid desiccant lithium chloride regeneration by membrane distillation for air conditioning. Sep Purif Technol. 2017;177:121–8 This research paper for the first time demonstrated the feasibility of MD for regeneration of liquid LiCl dessicant solution.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. •• Cheng Q, Zhang X, Jiao S. Experimental comparative research on electrodialysis regeneration for liquid desiccant with different concentrations in liquid desiccant air-conditioning system. Energ Buildings. 2017;155:475–83 This article experimentally investigated the impacts of liquid desiccant solution concentration on the performance of the ED process.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Chen Z, Zhu J, Bai H. Performance assessment of a membrane liquid desiccant dehumidification cooling system based on experimental investigations. Energ Buildings. 2017;139:665–79.

    Google Scholar 

  16. • Bai H, Zhu J, Chen Z, Ma L, Wang R, Li T. Performance testing of a cross-flow membrane-based liquid desiccant dehumidification system. Appl Therm Eng. 2017;119:119–31 This article investigated the performance of a membrane-based liquid desiccant air dehumidification system operated under the cross-flow mode.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. •• Liu X, Qu M, Liu X, Wang L. Membrane-based liquid desiccant air dehumidification: a comprehensive review on materials, components, systems and performances. Renew Sust Energ Rev. 2019;110:444–66 This article provides an up-to-date review on the membrane-based liquid desiccant air dehumidification, thus highlighting the need for research and studies on regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions using membrane processes.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Goh PS, Matsuura T, Ismail AF, Hilal N. Recent trends in membranes and membrane processes for desalination. Desalination. 2016;391:43–60.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. •• Duong HC, Ansari AJ, Nghiem LD, Pham TM, Pham TD. Low carbon desalination by innovative membrane materials and processes. Curr Pollut Rep. 2018;4:251–64 This article provides a comprehensive review on current advances in membrane processes and membrane materials for desalination purposes.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Buker MS, Riffat SB. Recent developments in solar assisted liquid desiccant evaporative cooling technology - a review. Energ Buildings. 2015;96:95–108.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Peñate B, García-Rodríguez L. Current trends and future prospects in the design of seawater reverse osmosis desalination technology. Desalination. 2012;284:1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Greenlee LF, Lawler DF, Freeman BD, Marrot B, Moulin P. Reverse osmosis desalination: water sources, technology, and today’s challenges. Water Res. 2009;43:2317–48.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. • Qasim M, Badrelzaman M, Darwish NN, Darwish NA, Hilal N. Reverse osmosis desalination: a state-of-the-art review. Desalination. 2019;459:59–104 This article provides the most recent review on the reverse osmosis process and membrane materials for desalination applications.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. • Li D, Yan Y, Wang H. Recent advances in polymer and polymer composite membranes for reverse and forward osmosis processes. Prog Polym Sci. 2016;61:104–55 This review paper analyzes the recent advances in thin-film polyamide composite membranes for reverse osmosis and forward osmosis processes.

    Google Scholar 

  25. • Werber JR, Deshmukh A, Elimelech M. The critical need for increased selectivity, not increased water permeability, for desalination membranes. Environ Sci Technol Lett. 2016;3:112–20 This research paper highlights the need for increased salt selectivity instead of water permeability of the RO membranes for desalination applications.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. • Pang R, Zhang K. Fabrication of hydrophobic fluorinated silica-polyamide thin film nanocomposite reverse osmosis membranes with dramatically improved salt rejection. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2018;510:127–32 This article investigated the novel RO membrane material for improved salt rejection.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. • Yan W, Shi M, Wang Z, Zhou Y, Liu L, Zhao S, et al. Amino-modified hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres-incorporated reverse osmosis membrane with high performance. J Membr Sci. 2019;581:168–77 This article investigated the novel RO membrane material for improved salt rejection.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. • Fujioka T, Ishida KP, Shintani T, Kodamatani H. High rejection reverse osmosis membrane for removal of N-nitrosamines and their precursors. Water Res. 2018;131:45–51 This article proposed an innovative method to improve the salt rejection of currently available RO membranes for strategic desalination applications including regeneration of liquid desiccant solution.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. • Al-Sulaiman FA, Gandhidasan P, Zubair SM, et al. Appl Therm Eng. 2007;27:2449–54 This research paper examined the feasibility of the RO process for regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions and highlighted the technical issue associated with the extreme osmotic pressure of the solutions.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Al-Farayedhi AA, Gandhidasan P, Younus Ahmed S. Regeneration of liquid desiccants using membrane technology. Energy Convers Manag. 1999;40:1405–11.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. •• Peters CD, Hankins NP. Osmotically assisted reverse osmosis (OARO): five approaches to dewatering saline brines using pressure-driven membrane processes. Desalination. 2019;458:1–13 This article provides a novel osmotically assisted RO process that is feasible for the regeneration of liquid desiccant solution.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. •• Bartholomew TV, Mey L, Arena JT, Siefert NS, Mauter MS. Osmotically assisted reverse osmosis for high salinity brine treatment. Desalination. 2017;421:3–11 This research article explored the use of osmotically assisted RO process for the treatment of hypersaline brines.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Kim J, Kim DI, Hong S. Analysis of an osmotically-enhanced dewatering process for the treatment of highly saline (waste)waters. J Membr Sci. 2018;548:685–93.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Liden T, Carlton DD, Miyazaki S, Otoyo T, Schug KA. Forward osmosis remediation of high salinity Permian Basin produced water from unconventional oil and gas development. Sci Total Environ. 2019;653:82–90.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Kim J, Kim J, Lim J, Hong S. Evaluation of ethanol as draw solute for forward osmosis (FO) process of highly saline (waste)water. Desalination. 2019;456:23–31.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Awad AM, Jalab R, Minier-Matar J, Adham S, Nasser MS, Judd SJ. The status of forward osmosis technology implementation. Desalination. 2019;461:10–21.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. •• Ansari AJ, Hai FI, Guo W, Ngo HH, Price WE, Nghiem LD. Selection of forward osmosis draw solutes for subsequent integration with anaerobic treatment to facilitate resource recovery from wastewater. Bioresour Technol. 2015;191:30–6 This article highlights the importance of proper selection of draw solutions for the FO desalination process.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Valladares Linares R, Li Z, Sarp S, Bucs SS, Amy G, Vrouwenvelder JS. Forward osmosis niches in seawater desalination and wastewater reuse. Water Res. 2014;66:122–39.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. • Martinetti CR, Childress AE, Cath TY. High recovery of concentrated RO brines using forward osmosis and membrane distillation. J Membr Sci. 2009;331:31–9 This paper demonstrates the capability of the FO process for the treatment of hypersaline solutions, including liquid desiccant solutions.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Kim Y, Woo YC, Phuntsho S, Nghiem LD, Shon HK, Hong S. Evaluation of fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis for coal seam gas reverse osmosis brine treatment and sustainable agricultural reuse. J Membr Sci. 2017;537:22–31.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Ansari AJ, Hai FI, Price WE, Ngo HH, Guo W, Nghiem LD. Assessing the integration of forward osmosis and anaerobic digestion for simultaneous wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Bioresour Technol. 2018;260:221–6.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Ansari AJ, Hai FI, Price WE, Drewes JE, Nghiem LD. Forward osmosis as a platform for resource recovery from municipal wastewater - a critical assessment of the literature. J Membr Sci. 2017;529:95–206.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Kim Y, Chekli L, Shim W-G, Phuntsho S, Li S, Ghaffour N, et al. Selection of suitable fertilizer draw solute for a novel fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis–anaerobic membrane bioreactor hybrid system. Bioresour Technol. 2016;210:26–34.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. • Choi Y, Hwang T-M, Jeong S, Lee S. The use of ultrasound to reduce internal concentration polarization in forward osmosis. Ultrason Sonochem. 2018;41:475–83 This paper highlights the negative impacts of internal concentration polarization effect on the performance of the FO process.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. • Heikkinen J, Kyllönen H, Järvelä E, Grönroos A, Tang CY. Ultrasound-assisted forward osmosis for mitigating internal concentration polarization. J Membr Sci. 2017;528:147–54 This paper investigated the efficiency of ultrasound in mitigating the internal concentration polarization effect during the FO process.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Wang Y, Zhang M, Liu Y, Xiao Q, Xu S. Quantitative evaluation of concentration polarization under different operating conditions for forward osmosis process. Desalination. 2016;398:106–13.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Zhang H, Cheng S, Yang F. Use of a spacer to mitigate concentration polarization during forward osmosis process. Desalination. 2014;347:112–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Nguyen NC, Chen SS, Jain S, Nguyen HT, Ray SS, Ngo HH, et al. Exploration of an innovative draw solution for a forward osmosis-membrane distillation desalination process. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2018;25:5203–11.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. • Zou S, Qin M, He Z. Tackle reverse solute flux in forward osmosis towards sustainable water recovery: reduction and perspectives. Water Res. 2019;149:362–74 This article highlights the role of reverse salt flux in the FO process.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Nguyen HT, Nguyen NC, Chen SS, Ngo HH, Guo W, Li CW. A new class of draw solutions for minimizing reverse salt flux to improve forward osmosis desalination. Sci Total Environ. 2015;538:129–36.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. • Xu X, He Q, Ma G, Wang H, Nirmalakhandan N, Xu P. Selective separation of mono- and di-valent cations in electrodialysis during brackish water desalination: bench and pilot-scale studies. Desalination. 2018;428:146–60 This artcile presents the fundamental knowledge about mass transfer and the influence of operating conditions on the mass transfer during the ED desalination process.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Chehayeb KM, Farhat DM, Nayar KG, Lienhard JH. Optimal design and operation of electrodialysis for brackish-water desalination and for high-salinity brine concentration. Desalination. 2017;420:167–82.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Strathmann H. Electrodialysis, a mature technology with a multitude of new applications. Desalination. 2010;264:268–88.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. •• Guo Y, Ma Z, Al-Jubainawi A, Cooper P, Nghiem LD. Using electrodialysis for regeneration of aqueous lithium chloride solution in liquid desiccant air conditioning systems. Energ Buildings. 2016;116:285–95 This article experimentally investigated the performance of an ED process for regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions.

    Google Scholar 

  55. • Guo Y, Al-Jubainawi, Peng X. Modelling and the feasibility study of a hybrid electrodialysis and thermal regeneration method for LiCl liquid desiccant dehumidification. Appl Energy. 2019;239:1014–36 This article investigated the feasibility of a hybrid ED and thermal evaporation process for regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions.

    Google Scholar 

  56. • Sun B, Zhang M, Huang S, Su W, Zhou J, Zhang X. Performance evaluation on regeneration of high-salt solutions used in air conditioning systems by electrodialysis. J Membr Sci. 2019;582:224–35 This artcile experimentally evaluated the regeneration efficiency of the ED process for concentrated liquid desiccant solutions for air conditioning.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. •• Guo Y, Al-Jubainawi A, Ma Z. Performance investigation and optimisation of electrodialysis regeneration for LiCl liquid desiccant cooling systems. Appl Therm Eng. 2019;149:1023–34 This research article provided an experimental investigation and optimization of the ED process for regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. •• Cheng Q, Jiao S. Experimental and theoretical research on the current efficiency of the electrodialysis regenerator for liquid desiccant air-conditioning system using LiCl solution. Int J Refrig. 2018;96:1–9 This research article experimentally evaluated the current efficiency of the ED process during the regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions used for air conditioning systems.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. • Cheng Q, Zhang X, Jiao S. Influence of concentration difference between dilute cells and regenerate cells on the performance of electrodialysis regenerator. Energy. 2017;140:646–55 This article elucidated the influence of salt concentration difference between cells on the ED process performance during the regeneration of liquid desiccant solution.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Al-Jubainawi A, Ma Z, Guo Y, Nghiem LD, Cooper P, Li W. Factors governing mass transfer during membrane electrodialysis regeneration of LiCl solution for liquid desiccant dehumidification systems. Sustain Cities Soc. 2017;28:30–41.

    Google Scholar 

  61. • Cheng Q, Xu Y, Zhang X-S. Experimental investigation of an electrodialysis regenerator for liquid desiccant. Energ Buildings. 2013;67:419–25 This research article investigated the performance of the ED process under various operating conditions during the regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Pan CY, Xu GR, Xu K, Zhao HL, Wu YQ, Su HC, et al. Electrospun nanofibrous membranes in membrane distillation: recent developments and future perspectives. Sep Purif Technol. 2019;221:44–63.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Li Q, Beier LJ, Tan J, Brown C, Lian B, Zhong W, et al. An integrated, solar-driven membrane distillation system for water purification and energy generation. Appl Energy. 2019;237:534–48.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Gopi G, Arthenareeswaran G, Ismail AF. Perspective of renewable desalination by using membrane distillation. Chem Eng Res Des. 2019;144:520–37.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Burhan M, Shahzad MW, Ybyraiymkul D, Oh SJ, Ghaffour N, Ng KC. Performance investigation of MEMSYS vacuum membrane distillation system in single effect and multi-effect mode. Sustainable Energy Technol Assess. 2019;34:9–15.

    Google Scholar 

  66. • Wang P, Chung TS. Recent advances in membrane distillation processes: membrane development, configuration design and application exploring. J Membr Sci. 2015;474:39–56 This paper provides a comprehensive review on MD membrane materials and configurations used for desalination applications.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. • Goodarzi S, Jahanshahi Javaran E, Rahnama M, Ahmadi M. Techno-economic evaluation of a multi effect distillation system driven by low-temperature waste heat from exhaust flue gases. Desalination. 2019;460:64–80 This article evaluated the technical and economic feasibility of the MD process driven by low-grade waste heat from exhaust flue gas.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Gustafson RD, Hiibel SR, Childress AE. Membrane distillation driven by intermittent and variable-temperature waste heat: system arrangements for water production and heat storage. Desalination. 2018;448:49–59.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. • Hejazi M-AA, Bamaga OA, Al-Beirutty MH, Gzara L, Abulkhair H. Effect of intermittent operation on performance of a solar-powered membrane distillation system. Sep Purif Technol. 2019;220:300–8 This study eluciated the impact of intermittent operation on the performance of the MD process driven by solar thermal energy.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Zhang Y, Liu L, Li K, Hou D, Wang J. Enhancement of energy utilization using nanofluid in solar powered membrane distillation. Chemosphere. 2018;212:554–62.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. • Zhou J, Zhang X, Su W, Sun B. Performance analysis of vacuum membrane distillation regenerator in liquid desiccant air conditioning system. Int J Refrig. 2019;102:112–21 This study analyzed the performance of a VMD process for regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions used for air conditioning systems.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Zhou J, Zhang X, Sun B, Su W. Performance analysis of solar vacuum membrane distillation regeneration. Appl Therm Eng. 2018;144:571–82.

    Google Scholar 

  73. • Lefers R, Srivatsa Bettahalli NM, Fedoroff N, Nunes SP, Leiknes T. Vacuum membrane distillation of liquid desiccants utilizing hollow fiber membranes. Sep Purif Technol. 2018;199:57–63 This article experimentally demonstrated the performance of the VMD process for regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Chen Q, Kum Ja M, Li Y, Chua KJ. Thermodynamic optimization of a vacuum multi-effect membrane distillation system for liquid desiccant regeneration. Appl Energy. 2018;230:960–73.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Choo FH, KumJa M, Zhao K, Chakraborty A, Dass ETM, Prabu M, et al. Experimental study on the performance of membrane based multi- effect dehumidifier regenerator powered by solar energy. Energy Procedia. 2014;48:535–42.

    Google Scholar 

  76. •• Duong HC, Álvarez IRC, Nguyen TV, Nghiem LD. Membrane distillation to regenerate different liquid desiccant solutions for air conditioning. Desalination. 2018;443:137–42 This article for the first time demonstrated the performance of the MD process for regeneration of different liquid desiccant solutions for air conditioning systems.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hung Cong Duong.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Water Pollution

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Duong, H.C., Ansari, A.J., Nghiem, L.D. et al. Membrane Processes for the Regeneration of Liquid Desiccant Solution for Air Conditioning. Curr Pollution Rep 5, 308–318 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-019-00120-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-019-00120-9

Keywords

Navigation