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Desmond F. Lawler

Other affiliations: Oregon State University
Bio: Desmond F. Lawler is an academic researcher from University of Texas at Austin. The author has contributed to research in topics: Particle & Filtration. The author has an hindex of 31, co-authored 127 publications receiving 5379 citations. Previous affiliations of Desmond F. Lawler include Oregon State University.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Key parameters of an RO process and process modifications due to feed water characteristics are brought to light by a direct comparison of seawater and brackish water RO systems.

2,665 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the Fair and Geyer equation was used to calculate the settling velocity of a small diameter cylindrical vessel in the presence of the wall effect, and two new correlations of the same forms were developed using the corrected data.
Abstract: Sphere drag data from throughout the twentieth century are available in tabular form. However, much of the data arose from experiments in small diameter cylindrical vessels, where the results might have been influenced by the wall effect. Wall effect corrections developed by others were applied to 178 of the 480 data points collected. This corrected data set is believed to be free of the influence of wall effects. Existing drag and settling velocity correlations were compared to this data set. In addition, new correlations of the same forms were developed using the corrected data. Two new correlations of sphere terminal velocity are proposed, one applicable for all Reynolds numbers less than 2310 5 , and the other designed to predict settling velocities with exceptional accuracy for terminal Reynolds numbers less than 4,000, a region that contains almost all applications of interest in environmental engineering. The trial and error solution for settling velocity using the Fair and Geyer equation for drag should be retired in favor of the direct calculation available from these new correlations.

413 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the kinetics of flocculation of heterodisperse suspensions like those in water treatment plants using the Smoluchowski equation, which incorporates collision frequency functions for particle collisions by Brownian motion, fluid shear, and differential sedimentation.
Abstract: The kinetics of flocculation of heterodisperse suspensions like those in water treatment plants are usually described by the Smoluchowski equation, which incorporates collision frequency functions for particle collisions by Brownian motion, fluid shear, and differential sedimentation. These collision-frequency functions are based on a rectilinear view of collisions, i.e., one that ignores short-range forces and changes in fluid motion as particles approach one another.

166 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the kinetics of flocculation of heterodisperse suspensions like those in water treatment plants using the Smoluchowski equation, which incorporates collision frequency functions for particle collisions by Brownian motion, fluid shear, and differential sedimentation.
Abstract: The kinetics of flocculation of heterodisperse suspensions like those in water treatment plants are usually described by the Smoluchowski equation, which incorporates collision frequency functions for particle collisions by Brownian motion, fluid shear, and differential sedimentation. These collision-frequency functions are based on a rectilinear view of collisions, i.e., one that ignores short-range forces and changes in fluid motion as particles approach one another.

159 citations


Cited by
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01 Jan 2016

1,715 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2019
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors have discussed the usage of different types of membranes for FO desalination application and their performances enhancement by suitable modification has been discussed, as well as a significant amount of work has been carried out to produce high-performance FO membrane for Desalination.
Abstract: Rapid population growth increases the demand for freshwater. Membrane technology is playing a dynamic role in the production of clean water from seawater and wastewater. The desalination of seawater using forward osmosis (FO) is an emerging technology to produce freshwater, as it is energy efficient than the conventional processes. In recent days, a significant amount of work has been carried out to produce high-performance FO membrane for desalination. In this chapter, usage of different types of membranes for FO desalination application and their performances enhancement by suitable modification has been discussed.

1,509 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, different types of water treatment and recycling techniques have been discussed in terms of their basic principles, applications, costs, maintenance and suitability, and a brief guideline for the selection of the appropriate technologies for specific applications has been evaluated.
Abstract: The global population is increasing and because of this, the world may experience great fresh water scarcity. Our water resources are limited and, hence, water treatment and recycling methods are the only alternatives for getting fresh water in the coming decades. Therefore, there is a great need for the development of a suitable, inexpensive and rapid wastewater treatment techniques and reuse or conservation methods in the present century. The different types of water treatment and recycling techniques have been discussed in terms of their basic principles, applications, costs, maintenance and suitability. Additionally, a systematic approach to water treatment and recycling involving their understanding, evaluation and selection parameters has been presented. A brief guideline for the selection of the appropriate technologies for specific applications has been evaluated. This review adds to the global discussions on water scarcity solutions.

1,296 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The most important aspects referring to irreversible adsorption of phenols and impact of different substituents of phenolic compounds on their uptake by activated carbons is considered.

1,249 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An overview of recent progress on the application and modification of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes can be found in this article, where two major problems of PVDF membranes in applications, namely membrane fouling and membrane wetting, are comprehensively reviewed.

1,233 citations