Investigation of Applicability of Hydrogels Functionalized with Fertilizer-Drawn Forward Osmosis in Ecological and Smart Agriculture

by Muhammed Raşit Çevikalp | Dec 19, 2022

Project Title: Investigation of Applicability of Hydrogels Functionalized with Fertilizer-Drawn Forward Osmosis in Ecological and Smart Agriculture
Project Type: İTÜ/MEM-TEK and TÜBİTAK Project
Project Coordinator: Dr. Mehmet Emin Paşaoğlu

The agricultural industry is the main consumer of global freshwater and utilizes fertilizer to meet food demands. With an abundance of saline water globally, desalination will be a major contributor to solving the global freshwater crisis. In times of ever-increasing water scarcity, membrane-based desalination has been sought among the most efficient desalination processes available. Forward osmosis (FO) has widely been explored for its application in water desalination, especially as an energy-efficient and economical alternative to conventional membrane-based desalination. Currently, FO technology has been increasingly studied and applied for agricultural purposes. Fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis (FDFO) has garnered immense attention for its application in the agriculture field and its potential to reuse saline water sustainably.

Unfortunately, the FDFO system still encounters challenges of the unavailability of suitable membranes for the FO process. FDFO using thin film composite (TFC) FO membranes have been shown to have better solute rejection as well as reduce energy consumption and membrane replacement cost as compared to the commercial FO membrane (CTA membrane). Nevertheless, there are few limitations faced by TFN membranes. These include low water flux and high reverse solute flux (RSF). Numerous research studies have been carried out on fabrication and modifications of the thin film composite forward osmosis TFC-FO membrane using novel materials and additives, different polymers and concentrations, and altering the characteristics of the selective layer. In this study, the development of FO membrane incorporated with organic-inorganic nanomaterials of the metal organic framework (MOF) on porous membrane support is proposed. Different types of MOF and loading ratios on the different modules of porous membrane support (flat sheet and hollow fiber) will be tested and the physicochemical analysis will be conducted using various characterization analyses. The performance of the fabricated thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane will be evaluated in terms of salt rejection, water flux, reverse solute flux, and long-term stability. It is envisaged that the new type of FO membrane developed in this study could significantly increase water flux and while minimizing the RSF desirable for fertigation applications. Diluted liquid fertilizer is given with controlled drip irrigation in common use. But, the rate of giving an amount of fertilizer could not be controlled with this system. So, it is needed to apply a controlled release technology to overcome this problem. For this reason, fertilizer encapsulated hydrogel beads will be formed for the controlled release fertilizing.

İTÜ Faculty of Civil Engineering

It can be accepted that the history of ITU Civil Engineering Faculty was commenced in 1727 by the establishment of Humbarahane during the era of Damat İbrahim Paşa. However, this attempt was to no avail due to the martyrization of the studwents of this school by the Janissaries.

In 1734, during the grand viziership of Topal Osman Paşa, classes related to Civil Engineering was being taught in Hendesehane, which was founded in Üsküdar. Similarly, this school was also closed after three years due to the opposition of the Janissaries. The reasons of the tragedy that occured in Battle of Chesma, 1770 were inadequacy of the ships and the ignorance of the Ottoman Navy.

Although the Atlantic Map (1513) and the Map of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea (1523) by Piri Reis were the leading pieces of the era, Ottoman viziers were so ignorant that they claimed it was impossible for the Russian Baltic Fleet to reach the Mediterranean Sea assuming that there were no sea connection. With the proposal from Gazi Hasan Paşa and Baron de Tott, Mühendishane-i Bahri-i Humayun was established during the time of Sultan Mustafa III, aiming to train naval construction engineers. Since Ottoman Empire did not have any engineering schools at the time, military engineering classes were taught by French engineers beginning from 1784. French lecturers had to return to their country in 1788 with the increasing suppression from Austria and Russia, which were unwilling for the development and thriving of Ottoman Empire. In 1759, during the Grand Viziership of Koca Ragıp Paşa, Humbarahane was reopened in Karaağaç, Haliç (Golden Horn) and continued to teach even though it was incompetent. In 1792, Lağımcı Ocağı and Humbaracı Ocağı (Guild of Sappers) were established.