1WDRC News | Spring 2014 wdrc.kaust.edu.sa

WDRC News

Spring 2014 | wdrc.kaust.edu.sa

FROM THE DIRECTORI am excited to share some recent developments involving the WDRC. First, KAUST recently hosted its annual KAUST Industry Affiliates Board (KIAB) meeting in which almost 30 global, regional, and national industrial partners attended. The WDRC was involved in two important activities during this meeting: (i) a panel discussion on university-industry research engagement models and (ii) a session on sustainable water technologies. Second, the WDRC recently signed an important MoU with a Korean partner on emerging water technologies and hybrids.

First, the panel discussion at the KIAB meeting revealed that the various research centers at KAUST, as they have matured, engage industry in research according to different models, ranging from unstructured to structured, the latter being the case of the WDRC with our Center Industrial Affiliates Program (CIAP). A unique aspect of our CIAP program is that we recruit, and engage, multiple industry partners along the entire industrial value chain from materials to modules to processes/systems to end users. While industrially-relevant research has from the beginning been an important driver for the WDRC, we are now trying to promote more multi-industry research projects among our CIAP members, either with partners at various points along the value chain, or with similar partners working on upstream (non-competitive) research topics. Another important aspect of the WDRC’s model for engaging industry in research is our establishment of pilot/test-bed facilities for technology scale-up. The WDRC is in the process of constructing a forward osmosis (FO) pilot, with a CIAP partner, and a membrane distillation (MD) pilot, as part of a Seed Fund project. We will soon commission a new 300 m2 Desalination Technologies Pilot-Testing Facility, with research to be focused on SWRO reduction of specific energy consumption and pretreatment of difficult-to-treat seawater sources (e.g., Red Sea); in this latter area, we have just initiated a project involving all of our CIAP partners on pretreatment of algal-impacted seawater.Also, as part of the KIAB meeting, the WDRC and one of our CIAP partners, Dow, were asked to facilitate a discussion on sustainable water technologies. In this session, we focused on taking the term sustainability from a buzzword to a concept anchored on clear sustainability indices. In water technologies, the most important indices include: specific energy consumption (kwH/m3), greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, chemical utilization, wastes production/utilization, improved water quality performance (reducing chemical and microbial risk), and valuable materials recovery (e.g., Li from seawater and P from wastewater). WDRC research activities which address these sustainability issues include low-energy and renewable energy-driven desalination processes and hybrids (e.g., FO-LPRO and solar MD) and energy-neutral/-positive wastewater treatment/reuse processes (e.g., bioelectrical chemical systems (BES) and hybrids, and anaerobic membrane bioreactors (anMBR)). The challenge is to move beyond the traditional lowest unit cost mentality, historically used in technology assessment and selection, into a broader life cycle assessment (LCA) perspective. Related to water technology development, the WDRC has also continued expansion of its international partnership network, having recently signed an MoU with the Korea research center, Global MVP (GMVP), which is focusing on hybridizing SWRO with MD and pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) for increased water recovery and (salinity gradient) energy production. Under this MoU, a planned activity is to pilot test the GMVP technology hybrids at KAUST with Red Sea water.

Prof. Gary Amy WDRC Director

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FACULTY Q & AProf. Neil Chung received his PhD from SUNY at Buffalo (USA). He had worked for US industries for 15 years before joining NUS in 1995. He produced 31 PhD students, published 1 book, 17 book chapters, 30 patents and patent applications, 450 journal papers and 350 conference papers.

Prof. Chung’s research focuses on membranes for clean water, clean energy, and CO2 capture. Novel membranes for purification of natural gas and hydrogen, and CO2 capture have been developed. Breakthroughs on high performance forward osmosis, membrane distillation and aquaporin embedded biomimetic

membranes for clean water have been demonstrated. He is currently a Professor and Provost Chair for the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS), and is joining KAUST and the WDRC as a Visiting Professor.

Q: The National University of Singapore (NUS), where you are a Professor, is considered to be the top research institute in water, what are the keys to your success? A: There are many contributing factors. First and foremost, it is by God’s grace that I can achieve this honor and together with the Singapore support that I gain. Without God’s blessings and Singapore’s strong support, I cannot accomplish much. I have time to think of research, write proposals and find solutions to overcome challenges. In addition, I have been blessed with many intelligent students and staff. As a result, we can inspire one another, work together to overcome challenges and excel our research productivity.

Q: What makes your research relevant to the WDRC and KSA?A: Both Saudi Arabia and Singapore have a common issue of water shortage. Thus, WDRC, KSA and NUS have the same common goal to develop technologies to overcome water scarcity. Since all of us work on membranes and KAUST is a relatively young university compared to NUS, the joint collaboration between Saudi Arabia and NUS teams will complement each other’s strengths, reduce our risks, speed up technology innovation and help each other.

Q: Do you consider innovation in membrane technologies, material developments, integrations, etc. are critical for water sustainability?A: Membrane technologies are proven technologies for water sustainability. However, the current membrane technologies still have limitations. For example, RO (reverse osmosis) processes are energy intensive; RO membranes and MBR (membrane bioreactor) membranes have fouling problems. Therefore, innovations on low-energy separation technologies for water reuse and seawater desalination via novel membrane materials, membrane fabrication and integrations are urgently needed.

Q: What attributes are necessary for students in becoming successful researcher?

A: In my opinion, students need to be ambitious (i.e., aim high and dream big). In addition, they must be diligent, willing to learn, committed, responsible and never give up in order to pursue their goals to the end.

Q: Why did you decided to join WDRC and KAUST as a visiting Professor? A: Firstly, I like to thank KAUST and Prof. Gary Amy for giving me this opportunity. It gives me an opportunity to open my scope on water research, meet and interact with outstanding researchers at WDRC and KAUST. I also believe my membrane knowledge may contribute to WDRC. We may jointly develop novel membrane technologies to mitigate the global water scarcity issue.

Prof. Neal Chung

3WDRC News | Spring 2014 wdrc.kaust.edu.sa

UPCOMINGEVENTS

KICP Research SymposiumApril 28-30, 2014

The KAUST Industry Collaboration Program (KICP) would like to invite you to 4th KICP Research Symposium. The symposium is a three-day event and will be taking place here at KAUST campus from

The International Water Association (IWA) will convene this year’s Leading Edge Technology (LET) conference in the GCC region for the first time in Abu Dhabi. Along with MIST (Masdar Institute of Science and Technology) in Abu Dhabi, KAUST is a co-organizer of this important event, and Prof. Gary Amy is co-chair of a session on low/renewable energy desalination.

Monday April 28 to Wednesday April 30, 2014. The purpose of this event is to provide you with the opportunity to discover leading edge scientific and technological breakthroughs.You will be the first to learn, directly from KAUST faculty and researchers, about new conceptions, instrumentation, methods, materials and processes having some potential for innovation and commercialization, in an effort to optimize match-making between industry R&D needs with KAUST research competencies that lead to sponsored research agreements of high value to those involved.

11th IWA Leading Edge Conference on Water and Waste Water Technologies May 26-30, 2014

MoU WITH GMVP KOREAThe WDRC has recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Global-MVP, also known as GMVP on April 10 2014. The Vice President for Research, Professor Jean Frechet signed the agreement with GMVP’s PI, Professor Seung-Hyun Kim of Kyungnam University. Dean Pierre Magistretti, Professor Gary Amy (director of WDRC), and Dr. Imad Abukhalaf and Mr. Loay Alfi (KICP manager and head of business development, respectively), along with WDRC faculty members and researcher attended this event.

The GMPV project is a US$35M mega-project over a five year period, supported by the Korean government. The GMVP focuses on three main research areas: membrane distillation (MD), valuable resource recovery (VRR) and pressure retarded osmosis (PRO), supported by more

than140 researchers, working together in developing the technologies and various hybrids.

There are many synergies between this project and WDRC activities on innovative desalination technologies and their integration. WDRC’s CIAP partner GSE&C, along with Korea Institute of Construction Technology (KICT), Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), Kookmin University, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Seoul National University (SNU), Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (RIST), Hanyang University (HYU) and Anytech, along with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) are involved on this project.

Prof. Seung-Hyun Kim

June Seok Choi (KICT), Dr. Sarper Sarp (GS), Loay Alfi (KICP), Dr. Faisal Wali, Dr. Noreddine Ghaffour, Prof. Peng Wang, Noura Sehab, Dr. Shahnawaz Sinha, and Prof. TorOve Leiknes from WDRC, Dr. Imad Abukhalaf, Prof. Jean Frechet and Prof. Seung-Hyun Kim with Prof. Gary Amy.

Prof. Jean Frechet and Prof. Seung-Hyun Kim signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

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MICROBIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF WATER TREATMENT AND DISTRIBUTION: RESEARCH GROUP ACTIVITIES

The WDRC Microbiology of Water Treatment and Distribution (MTD) group was established in 2010 by Prof. Hans Vrouwenvelder. The objective is to better understand the role of microorganisms, enabling the manipulation of the biological system for human benefits. The group’s research focuses on membrane biofouling and drinking water distribution. Close internal cooperation was initiated with Prof. Pascal Saikaly, Prof. Gary Amy, Dr. Noreddine Ghaffour and Prof. TorOve Leiknes. External cooperation was intensified with e.g. Prof. Mark van Loosdrecht (TU Delft), Prof. Wen-Tso Liu (UIUC) and Prof. Frederik Hammes (EAWAG).

BIOFOULING: IN-SITU NON-DESTRUCTIVE IMAGING STUDIES ON BIOFOULING PROCESSES Nadia Farhat developed an integrated non-destructive high-resolution imaging system to study biofilm processes. The imaging setup is able to combine spatially-resolved assessment of O2-distribution, liquid flow, biomass (DNA/RNA) and potentially also extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). This novel imaging system are used to study biofilm development in a membrane fouling simulator (MFS) flow cell under conditions similar to reverse osmosis membrane elements as applied in practice. Aspects of Nadia’s studies include e.g. (i) early warning of biofouling, (ii) impact of temperature and salt concentration on the biofilm growth rate and spatial biofilm patterning, (iii) development and dynamics of biofilm and water flow channels with time in a biofouled system.

MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF BIOFOULING Feed spacers (separating the membrane sheets and improving water mixing) and hydrodynamics have been found relevant for the impact of biofouling on membrane performance. Modeling the effect of biomass accumulation on the performance of membrane devices provides insight on the process and can suggest new strategies to manage biofouling. The objective of Szilard Bucs research is to further develop and evaluate mechanistic numerical models to describe

membrane biofouling in relation to feed spacers, hydrodynamics, process design and operational conditions. The approach is to apply two- and three-dimensional simulations for fluid dynamics, solutes transport with reaction and biofilm formation processes (attachment, growth, detachment) in the feed spacer channel of a RO membrane device under varying hydrodynamic conditions and feed spacer geometries. Szilard Bucs was awarded the KAUST seed fund for developing a novel fouling monitor. Maria José Mosqueira Santillán is developing a model to describe solute transport and fouling processes in forward osmosis systems.

ADVANCED STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING BIOFOULING The research of Amber Siddiqui addresses the effects on biofouling by using novel approaches like modified feed spacers (geometry, coating, smoothness and materials), modified membranes, hydrodynamics (affecting biofilm cohesion strength and morphology) and advanced cleaning strategies (preventive and curative with e.g. novel chemicals, osmotic shock and operational and hydraulic conditions) individually and combined. Concentration polarization is studied in the context of prevention and control of both biofouling and scaling. An integrated strategy may be more effective than a single modification to overcome biofouling. The findings of this research will provide insight on biofouling processes and potentially more effective biofouling control strategies.

Prof. Mark van Loosdrecht, Prof. Hans Vrouwenvelder, and Prof. Pascal Saikaly with the MTD Group

In-situ imaging of oxygen concentration in the membrane fouling simulator containing a feed spacer and RO membrane during operation.

3D model of spacer filled RO channel with water flow and biofouling growth on the spacer surface. Colors represent the pressure (red – high values, blue – low values).

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FORWARD OSMOSIS: PERFORMANCE AND FOULING MECHANISMSCooperation with Gary Amy, Zhenyu Li, Muhannad AbuGhdeeb, Rodrigo Valladares on research on forward osmosis membrane systems has and is providing further insight on membrane biofouling processes, which has relevance for NF/RO membrane processes.

BIOLOGICAL STABILITY: MICROBIAL ECOLOGY OF DRINKING WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS WITH AND WITHOUT RESIDUAL DISINFECTANTSThe research of Abdelaziz Belila, Joline El Chakhtoura and Emmanuelle Prest will address the microbial community composition and dynamics in DWDS with and without residual disinfectants in Saudi Arabia and The Netherlands. Studies will be performed in real drinking water distribution networks on (i) water samples from raw source, during water treatment and transport to the customer tap and (ii) biofilms on the inside of pipes (and possibly taps, shower heads and tubes) in the same distribution network and households. Studies will be carried out in actual DWDS as well as in miniature drinking water distribution networks. It is anticipated that this research on DWDS will enhance our understanding of (i) biological stability and (ii) a “healthy” water system in terms of microbial ecology.

Biofouled spiral wound RO membrane module

Biofouled spiral wound RO membrane module

WDRC WORKS TOWARD COMMISSIONING OF THE DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES PILOT FACILITY AT THE KAUST COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES COMPLEXKSA remains the world’s largest producer of desalinated water. However, it uses the energy intensive thermal-based desalination process, such as MSF (Multi-stage flash) and MED (Multiple-effect distillation). The current technology is

unsustainable to meet Kingdom’s growing energy and water needs. The alternative is the lower energy membrane-based desalination process, such as Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO), which is widely used in other part of the world, but not yet fully accepted in this region. Only 14% of Kingdom’s desalination capacity is currently met by SWRO. The reluctance to embrace SWRO for wider acceptance is due to this technology not yet fully demonstrated for challenging and difficult-to-treat seawaters, like the Red Sea and Gulf of Arabia (higher salinity and periodic algal blooms). Many of the issues and challenges still remaining to be addressed will part of the research and investigation at Desalination Technologies Pilot Facility. Other new emerging membrane based technologies [e.g., membrane distillation (MD), forward osmosis (FO)] are also the focus of WDRC research (FO and MD pilots presently located elsewhere at KAUST), however, these technologies are still emerging and not yet implementable at the full-scale. SWRO will remain the dominant technology for the coming decade. The emerging technologies (FO and MD) are expected to evolve into various niche application and hybrids, possibly in combination with SWRO (e.g., improving overall recovery rates, concentrating brine, zero-liquid discharge-ZLD, etc.). The WDRC’s Desalination Technologies Pilot Facility, located near KAUST’s Coastal and Marine Resources Complex, will be focusing and fulfilling Kingdom’s immediate and future water needs. The facility, expected to be commissioned soon (in coming months), will primarily focus on addressing research needs in improving and optimizing the process through effective pretreatment systems, lowering fouling, reducing specific energy consumption (by 20%) and chemical usage, improving overall recovery rates, and reducing residuals (by eventually integrating other emerging desalination process, such as MD and/or FO). The pilot facility will also be validating new concepts of bench-scale studies and by incorporating new technologies to the SWRO at pilot-scale. Some of the processes that will be available to this facility will include pretreatment processes including granular dual media filtration (DMF), low pressure membrane filtration (UF/MF), a simulated bench-well, and eventually dissolved air flotation (DAF). The facility will also allow addition of various type of chemicals and also testing of new-generation (higher permeability) SWRO membranes at a realistic scale. WDRC sees industrial projects as being an important activity at this facility, with participation by various industry partners working closely with WDRC researchers. The WDRC believes that its pilot-testing capabilities are essential in promoting lower energy desalination processes in the Kingdom and in meeting its growing water needs, while conserving energy. It will continue to evolve as a pilot facility for optimizing current SWRO technology for wider acceptance while incorporating emerging and innovative technologies to meet current and future desalination needs through effective pilot-scale research activities at KAUST.

FACILITIES UPDATE

Desalination Technologies Pilot Facility (LFO 52)

6WDRC News | Spring 2014 wdrc.kaust.edu.sa

Dow combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses deliver a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had annual sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe.

Q: What role can Dow play in the current desalination market in KSA? A: Dow sees excellent opportunities for its current technology to support the needs of the Saudi Arabian desalination market. Dow’s efforts focus on providing solutions into this critical area for this geography facing tremendous water scarcity. Dow believes sustainability, energy consumption and conservation will guide future growth in water treatment and desalination where the company can play a significant role.

Q: What type of research activities in desalination do you think are critical for the Kingdom’s sustainability? A: Overall the Kingdom needs to address energy consumption in the production of drinking water, by the introduction of other technologies to treat water such as solar energy, membrane desalination, etc. The Dow KSA Research Center at KAUST specifically focuses on Reverse Osmosis (RO) in combination with ultrafiltration (UF) pre-treatment seawater desalination. We address and evaluate in the lab and on an industrial scale the local requirements for these technologies, studying critical issues such as the effects of fouling and the effects of chemical treatment. We also develop and validate process conditions for UF/RO desalination plants in the region.

Q: Why did you join KAUST (as KICP) and WDRC (as CIAP) as a strategic partner?A: Dow is the founding member of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program, which serves to commercialize research into practical applications. Dow has been looking extensively for some time for a strategic partner in application development in the Middle East and found an excellent fit with KAUST. Once we joined, we saw tremendous overlap in our research programs in energy, water, environment, and food. These four themes drive our corporate research efforts. So the KAUST partnership was a natural and very strategic fit for Dow. Q: How does your engagement with WDRC serve your company?A: For Dow, it is important to identify and connect with talent early in their education and development. This allows us to offer internships and thesis-based research for graduate students. To this day, 50% of the Dow KSA R&D employees are KAUST graduates. The capabilities and the programs offered at WDRC complement what we are doing at Dow in terms of science, technology and the talent we seek and develop. As a result, Dow has active collaborative research programs with WDRC.

Q: What type of collaboration would you like to establish with this Center?A: What I would like us to do, from both ends, is to collaborate more on the natural complementation of skills, science, experience, and capabilities.

Q: What is your company’s ultimate vision in serving KSA?A: Our aim is to positively impact the local economic landscape, while contributing to the Saudi government efforts of transforming the country into a key player in the global petrochemicals industry. To achieve this, Dow seeks to engage the market and customers directly; to become a resident partner for the country. The Dow KSA R&D Center at KAUST serves as a springboard for our science technology and we have other landmark partnerships that support our commitment to KSA. Most notable is our JV with Saudi Aramco , The Sadara Chemical Company. Once complete, this will be one of the world’s largest integrated chemical facilities ever built. We also announced plans to invest in a manufacturing facility for DOW FILMTEC™ reverse osmosis water treatment elements in Saudi Arabia. This will be the first such facility for Dow outside of the USA and complements perfectly our collaboration here at KAUST in the area of water research.

On this issue we interviewd the Director of Dow KSA and R&D Center, Mr. Henk Pool. He works at the Dow R&D Center located in KAUST, and has constant interaction with the WDRC and KAUST Community.

Company Profile

INDUSTRY CORNER

Henk Pool

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WDRC 2013 HIGHLIGHTS

FEBRUARY 2014 Professor Rod Mackie of University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (UIUC) Professor Isaac Cann of University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (UIUC) Professor Amy Pruden of Virginia Tech Professor Andrew Burry EPFL (Switzerland)Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director general International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA)

MARCH 2014Mr. Snehal Desai from Dow (Global Business Director of water and Process Solution)Dr. Wiltrud Treffenfeldt from Dow Mr. Hendrick Pool from DowMr. Rami Amirah from Dow (commercial director ME and North Africa)Prof. Mark Wiesner of Duke University Prof. Perry L. McCarthy of Stanford UniversityProf. Matthias Wessling of RWTH Achen and DWI Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Germany

APRIL 2014Dr. Sarper Sarp of GS, KoreaMr. June Seok Choi of from KICT, KoreaProf. Seung-Hyun Kim from GMVP, KoreaProf. Pedro Alvarez, Rice University, Houston, USAMr. Kevin Price, retired Research Coordinator of U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Advanced Water Treatment Research in the Office of Research and Development

Noura Shehab, PhD candidate from WDRC, co advised by Prof Gary Amy and Prof Pascal Saikaly won two awards for her poster titled (Microbial Electrodeionization Cell (MEDIC) for sustainable desalination, wastewater treatment and low energy recovery) during the Global Collaborative Research (GCR) program, hosted by KAUST to recognize and celebrate the University’s innovative global alliances. Over 150 posters were on display, highlighting some of the remarkable research conducted at KAUST.

Jayaprakash Saththasivam, Kim Choon Ng, Youngdeuk Kim, Yogesh Singh, and Noreddine Ghaffour were awarded with a Pre-Seed Fund Award of US$30K 2014. The project that the team was awarded for is “Innovative Membrane Cleaning Technique Using Microbubbles”. Fouling could be controlled with continuous in-line cleaning of membranes using microbubble (MB) system. No chemicals are required and there is no need to shut-down the plant during cleaning. This group is proposing a new design rotary type MB system. The MB generator will convert the kinetic energy of the fluid flow to produce millions of micron size bubbles. Their preliminary study shows that water swirl induces gas at the vortex core which eventually erupts as MB when the high speed rotation is deliberately disrupted at the nozzle exit.

Water Desalination and Reuse CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia

Contact: Dr. Shahnawaz Sinhashahnawaz.sinha@kaust.edu.sa+966 1(2) 808 4905

Noura Shehab (middle)

WDRC VISITORS