Oscillate4Cycle – Advancing Membrane Distillation and Filtration for Circular Economy and Industrial Water Recovery

The Oscillate4Cycle project develops innovative net-flow concepts to improve membrane-based treatment of industrial wastewater with high solid loads. Industries such as pulp and paper or plastics recycling generate large volumes of highly contaminated process water, making efficient treatment, resource recovery, and reduced freshwater consumption essential for sustainable production. Conventional membrane processes often face severe challenges under these conditions, including fouling, scaling, strong flux decline, and high energy requirements.

Oscillate4Cycle investigates how controlled variations in net flow can enhance hydrodynamics inside membrane systems, improving mixing, reducing boundary layer effects, and stabilizing long-term operation. By testing membrane distillation (MD) and pressure-driven filtration technologies under both synthetic and real industrial wastewater conditions, the project aims to identify operating strategies that significantly reduce fouling while maintaining high separation performance.

The research combines laboratory experiments, process monitoring, modelling approaches, and close collaboration with industrial partners to ensure practical relevance and future scalability. A technical-economic assessment will further evaluate whether improved net-flow operation can reduce energy demand, increase water recovery, and enable the reuse of valuable solutes, supporting circular economy principles. With its interdisciplinary approach, Oscillate4Cycle contributes to the development of next-generation water treatment technologies that help industries lower environmental impact, reduce resource consumption, and move toward climate-neutral production.