KVL Helps Extract 3D Models used in Simulation of Ion Transport in Composite Membranes

Overview

KAUST postdoc Dr. Fernan Martinez (pictured below) recently presented a lecture entitled “Three-dimensional model of ion transport in composite membranes: effect of the internal structure” in the EuroMembrane Conference held between September 8-12, 2024. In the lecture, Dr. Martinez presented how their new approach of simulating ion transport in water desalination membranes using 3D geometries rather than previous 2D models gives a more accurate understanding of the phenomenon. Specifically, in 3D simulations, they found that “voids do not affect the salt permeability” while in 2D, the “salt permeability is overestimated”.

Visualization scientist Dr. Ronell Sicat from the KAUST Visualization Core Lab (KVL) supported Dr. Martinez in pre-processing the TEM scans, testing segmentation methods, and eventually post-processing the segmentation and extracted surfaces in order to get 3D geometries that were suitable for the target simulation software. KVL also provided free access to Avizo software and a powerful workstation with a pen-and-tablet interface that enabled faster manual segmentation of the TEM data.