In the water treatment technology for seawater desalination, the forward osmosis (FO) method using the osmotic phenomenon is expected to be promising as a way of energy saving process. In the recent past, various types of FO modules were developed. To utilize two kinds of solutions as a feed solution (FS) and a draw solution (DS), a hollow fiber type module has been evaluated as an appropriate flow configuration for FO module. Toyobo developed a practical size hollow fiber FO module which has the same membrane material and chlorine resistance as a cellulose triacetate (CTA) RO module. The performance of water flow rate of the hollow fiber FO module was applicable to the hollow fiber type FO module analytical model based on the solution-diffusion model including the case of seawater desalination. Meanwhile, several companies commercialized and have been developing seawater desalination systems by FO process. Since 2009, the world’s first commercial plant using FO modules has been operated for seawater desalination in Oman. In this operation, it is reported that thanks to the FO module’s superior fouling resistance, a higher recovery operation with lower energy consumption has been realized compared with an RO plant at the same area. Also, another FO seawater desalination system has been developed. This system uses a thermosensing chemical as DS in FO process. A pilot plant using this FO process has been operated for seawater desalination in UAE. The study for actual practical use is developing steadily.

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