As a novel technology using the principle of osmosis

forward osmosis has drawn worldwide attentions in recent years. Understanding the simultaneous water transport and solute reverse transport in the forward osmosis processes is essential to the development and application of this emerging technology. In this study

the effects of two membrane orientations on solute reverse molar flux and water flux were investigated. The water flux in the mode of active layer facing draw solution was higher than that in the mode of active layer facing feed solution

whereas solute reverse molar flux presented a contrary result

which indicated that transport of water would restrict the reverse transport of solute. The effects of different types of solute

including one single solute and two-component mixed solutes

on solute flux and water flux were also investigated. Water flux and solute reverse molar flux increased with increasing draw solution concentration when using single neutral solute or electrolyte as solute. Under the same operation condition

the smaller the diffusion coefficient was

the lower the solute reverse molar flux was. Furthermore

the coupled transport of the solutes was observed in the mixed draw solution.