1. Title, Journal and Authors

Title: Pressure-retarded osmosis for power generation from salinity gradients: is it viable?

Journal: Energy & Environmental Science

Authors: Anthony P. Straub^a,  Akshay Deshmukh^a,Menachem Elimelech^a, *

a. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, P.O. Box 208286, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, USA

 

2. Summary

 The viability of pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) has been controversial over past decades in spite of countless endeavors and dedications. As one of the pioneers who stood in the very front of this field, the authors, Prof. Elmelech and his disciples, diagnosized the viability of PRO in a point of critical view. The authors suggested a series of thermodynamic backgrounds used for PRO and made a pessimistic conclusion based on the results thereof. Thereby, the authors anticipated that it would not be easy to commercialize the stand-alone PRO process in the real field.

 

3. Application to research

 - The limitations suggested by the authors can be considered as obstacles for the researchers who are trying to realize full-scale PRO, like me. The obstacles. therefore, can be deemed as permanent enemies located in the current field so that we can do our best to tear down those 'specific' enemies.

 

5. Contact