Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy: Real-Time In-Situ Physical and Chemical Characterization of Reverse Osmosis Desalination Membrane Scaling

Simmons, Y. Lange; Andersen, Jasmine M.; Zohrabi, Mo; Bright, Victor M.; Greenberg, Alan R.; Gopinath, Juliet T.

doi:10.1021/acs.est.5c10405

Title: Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy: Real-Time In-Situ Physical and Chemical Characterization of Reverse Osmosis Desalination Membrane Scaling

Journal Article · Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 UTC 2025 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c10405 · OSTI ID:3011359

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University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)

We introduce a stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) methodology designed for rapid, real-time, and in situ monitoring of RO membrane scaling adapted for bench-scale desalination flow cells. The methodology can provide new insights into membrane scaling dynamics by offering time-resolved reflection imaging of inorganic crystal growth, coupled with chemical identification from Raman spectral data. These capabilities allow for direct local measurement of the membrane surface area covered by different scalants as well as an approximation of the scalant volume using three-dimensional, integrated Raman intensity. The 2D and 3D SRS results obtained from CaSO₄ scaling experiments are compared to and are in reasonable agreement with those provided by confocal microscopy. The real-time physical and chemical characterization capabilities presented here could be extended to study combinations of inorganic, organic, and biological fouling. Overall, the SRS methodology represents an advancement in real-time sensing of membrane fouling that offers the potential for improved operation, lower cost, and more resilient RO membrane systems for sustainable water management.

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Research Organization:: University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)

Grant/Contract Number:: AR0001835

OSTI ID:: 3011359

Journal Information:: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 51 Vol. 59; ISSN 1520-5851; ISSN 0013-936X

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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42 ENGINEERING
Reverse osmosis
crystals
desalination
imaging
membranes
microscopy
reverse osmosis
scaling
spectroscopy
stimulated Raman scattering
stimulated raman scattering
water filtration

Title: Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy: Real-Time In-Situ Physical and Chemical Characterization of Reverse Osmosis Desalination Membrane Scaling

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