Osmotic evaporation through macroporous hydrophobic membranes: A survey of current research and applications

The principle of osmotic trans-membrane evaporation is exposed and compared to other membrane contactors. The origin and the current description of the vapour flux are critically reviewed as well as the importance of the boundary layers near the membranes. Furthermore, a compilation of results obtained on the laboratory and on the industrial scale is given and the disagreements between the conclusions of different research groups are discussed.