{"id":45659,"date":"2025-10-16T22:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alicat.com\/?p=45659"},"modified":"2026-02-13T19:02:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T19:02:06","slug":"forschung-zur-nachhaltigkeit-im-bereich-wasser-an-der-universitat-oakland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alicat.com\/de\/articles\/water-sustainability-research-at-oakland-university\/","title":{"rendered":"Forschung zur Wassernachhaltigkeit an der Universit\u00e4t Oakland"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2em||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_heading title=”Osmosis Research at the University of Oakland ” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_css_free_form=”selector h1 {|| padding-bottom: 0;|| text-wrap: pretty;||}” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_divider color=”#2A3B47″ divider_weight=”2.5px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” height=”0px” custom_margin=”3rem||3rem||true|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-xY-2QFPd24&rel=0#8243; _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_heading title=”Water Sustainability and Osmosis Test Bench Research at Oakland University” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]To ensure the long-term viability of critical water and energy infrastructure, scientists and engineers are advancing technologies that improve water recovery, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Among these, water desalination and salinity-gradient energy conversion have become central topics in research and policy discussions.<\/p>\n

Reverse Osmosis (RO) uses pressure to force saline water through a semipermeable membrane, producing fresh water while concentrating the remaining brine. Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) harnesses the osmotic pressure difference between fresh water and seawater to drive a turbine and generate electricity. Both approaches show promise for addressing global water scarcity while contributing to renewable energy generation.<\/p>\n

However, these technologies must continually evolve to meet rising demands from population growth, urbanization, and environmental protection. For RO, researchers are improving energy efficiency, water recovery, and salt rejection, yet challenges remain—such as high operating costs, brine disposal, and infrastructure demands (Garg & Joshi, 2015). PRO faces hurdles in membrane efficiency, scalability, and capital costs, which currently keep its cost per kilowatt above that of the U.S. grid (Hickenbottom et al., 2017).<\/p>\n

Addressing these barriers requires not only technical advances but also organizational innovation. Public-private partnerships, for example, have become vital for bridging financial, operational, and regulatory gaps in energy and water infrastructure development (Nwokediegwu et al., 2024). This blend of technical and collaborative approaches is exemplified in national programs like the Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC) and Hydropower Collegiate Competition (HCC), hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)<\/a>. These initiatives challenge students to design real-world solutions for sustainable energy, providing hands-on industry experience and professional exposure.<\/p>\n

At Oakland University, Associate Professor John Maisonneuve and his team of graduate and undergraduate students exemplify this mission through their research on osmotic pressure systems and the development of an osmosis test bench. Their MECC project aimed to improve the energy efficiency of an osmosis-based power and desalination system, using a custom-built bench setup to test both RO and PRO modes across a saltwater gradient.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”layout of the osmosis test bench” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]The osmosis test bench featured a split-cell design with freshwater on one side and brine on the other, separated by a thin cellulose acetate membrane mounted between acrylic frames. In RO trials, high pressure was applied to the saltwater side, forcing water molecules across the membrane—simulating the separation process used in large-scale desalination. In PRO mode, osmotic forces moved water toward the saltier side, generating a pressure differential that could, in scaled applications, power a turbine. This demonstrated the potential of salinity-gradient energy conversion for renewable electricity production.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||2rem||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_css_free_form=”selector figure {|| display: table;|| margin-left: auto;|| margin-right: auto;|| text-align: center;||}||||selector figcaption {|| caption-side: bottom;|| display: table-caption;||}||||selector img {|| margin-bottom: 1rem;||}” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

\"CODA
Reverse osmosis test setup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”System setup” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||2rem|2rem|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||2rem|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|||0rem|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element=”float: right;” custom_css_free_form=”selector figure {|| display: table;|| margin-left: auto;|| margin-right: auto;|| text-align: center;||}||||selector figcaption {|| caption-side: bottom;|| display: table-caption;||}||||selector img {|| margin-bottom: 1rem;||}” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”float: right;” custom_css_main_element_phone=”float: none;” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

\"Alicat<\/p>
K-Series CODA Coriolis Mass Flow Meter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]To maintain precise control over flow, pressure, and salinity, the Oakland University team partnered with Alicat Scientific for high-precision instrumentation.<\/p>\n