Academic Qualifications

Education

• PhD, Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University (QS World Rankings: 61), Seoul, Republic of Korea
• BSc, Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University (QS World Rankings: 67), Seoul, Republic of Korea

• Foundations of Environmental Science (ENV 1100)
• Introduction to Oceanography (ES 2400)
• Geo-Hydro Systems (ES 2101)
• Data Analysis for Environment and Health (ES 3011)
• Special Topics in Earth Science (ES 4901)
• Special Topics in Earth Science (ES 3801)

Dr. Kim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU). He is also a Director of WKU Center for Sustainable Environmental and Ecosystem Research. Before joining WKU, he held the position of Research Professor at Korea University, where he earned his BSc and PhD degrees in Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. His research is centered on enhancing energy efficiency in membrane-based water treatment and desalination processes. He has authored more than 25 papers in leading SCIE journals in the field of environmental and chemical engineering. His innovative work has led to the successful patenting of environmental processes, with 20 applied patents, 12 granted patents, and 2 registered patents transferred to Korean companies. He was awarded the prestigious Korea Young Talent Award by the President of the Republic of Korea and the Talent Award for Young Scholar in Zhejiang Province, China. He leads multiple research projects as a principal investigator, including the Research Fund for International Young Scientists, offered by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). He has further demonstrated his commitment to the field by serving as Special Issue Editor of the journal Desalination and as a committee member of the International Desalination Association Young Leaders Program since 2023 and 2019, respectively. He also serves as Secretary General of the Korean Scientists and Engineers Association in China.

• Water Treatment and Desalination
• Membrane Hybrid Process
• Process Development and Optimization
• Artifical Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Carbon Neutrality

SCIE Journals

28. L. Dong, Y. Song, Y. Liu, M. Xie, D. Mu, J. Kim^*, Sensitivity analysis of design variables in semi-batch reverse osmosis for energy-efficient water treatment, J. Clean. Prod., Under Review, 2025 [IF: 10.0]

27. K. Li, Y. Liu, M. Xie, H. Li, S. Li, C. Wang, L. Dong, J. Kim^*, Municipal surface water valorization for clean water recovery and heavy metal removal towards a circular economy, Energy Nexus 19, 100502, 2025 [IF: 9.5]

26. J. Kim*, T. He*, H.K. Shon^*, Editorial of special issue: Application of desalination technology, Desalination 608, 118952, 2025 [IF: 9.8]

25. J. Moon, S. Son, J. Kim^*, K Park^*, Critical challenges in high-salinity seawater reverse osmosis systems: Technical, energy, and environmental reviews, Desalination 607, 118811, 2025 [IF: 9.8]

24. C. Wang^1,*, L. Wang¹, L. Dong, H.K. Shon^*, J. Kim^*, Specific energy consumption of seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant by using machine learning approach, Desalination 602 118654, 2025 [IF: 9.8]

23. Y. Lee, W. Kang, W. Lee, M.J. Park, J. Kim^*, Pilot study of circle sequence reverse osmosis for high-recovery water reuse in industry using tertiary effluent, Desalination 600, 118480, 2025 [IF: 9.8]

22. W. Gong, H. Xu, J. Lu, J. Kim, Y. Zhao, N. Li, Y. Zhang, J. Yang, D. Xu, H. Liang, Gradient boosting decision tree algorithms for accelerating nanofiltration membrane design and discovery, Desalination 592, 118072, 2024 [IF: 9.8]

21. Y. Lee, W. Kang, W. Lee, J.H. Lee, J. Kim^*, Improving water flux distribution and energy efficiency in reverse osmosis for high-recovery water reuse, Desalination 585, 117779, 2024 [IF: 9.8]

20. H. Liu, A. Merenda, M. Guo, J. Kim, S. Phuntsho, H.K. Shon, P. Sun^*, Novel approach for fresh urine stabilization during collection and storage, Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 18(8), 895-900, 2024 [IF: 8.8]

19. A. Soo, J. Kim, H.K. Shon^*, Technologies for the wastewater circular economy – A review, Desalin. Water Treat. 317, 100205, 2024 [IF: 1.0]

18. J. Lee, Y. Shin, J. Kim^*, S. Hong^*, Feasibility and challenges of high-pressure pressure retarded osmosis applications utilizing seawater and hypersaline water sources, Desalination 581, 117578, 2024 [IF: 9.8]

17. A.M. Abou-Elanwar, S. Lee, I. Jang, S. Lee, S. Hong, J. Kim^*, Y. Kim^*, Evaluation of a novel fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis and membrane contactor hybrid system for CO₂ capture using ammonia-rich wastewater, J. Membr. Sci. 700, 112654, 2024 [IF: 9.0]

16. J. Kim^*, L. Dong, H.K. Shon, K. Park^*, Current progress in semi-batch reverse osmosis for brackish water desalination, Desalination 578, 117434, 2024 [IF: 9.8]

15. D.Y. Kwon, J. Kim, S. Park, S. Hong^*, Advancements of remote data acquisition and processing in unmanned vehicles technologies for water quality monitoring: An extensive review, Chemosphere 343, 140198, 2023 [IF: 8.1]

14. J. Kim, S. Hong^*, Pilot study of emerging low-energy seawater reverse osmosis desalination technologies for high-salinity, high-temperature, and high-turbidity seawater, Desalination 565, 116871, 2023 [IF: 9.8]

13. Y. Kang, J. Kwon, J. Kim^*, S. Hong^*, Fate of low molecular weight organic matters in reverse osmosis and vacuum ultraviolet process for high-quality ultrapure water production in the semiconductor industry, J. Clean. Prod. 423, 138714, 2023 [IF: 10.0]

12. S. Lee, J. Kim, J. Kim^*, S. Hong^*, Application of electrically conductive membrane contactor in the carbon dioxide stripping process for mitigation of fouling induced by flue gas, Chem. Eng. J. 473, 145425, 2023 [IF: 13.2]

11. A.B. Alayande, J. Lim, J. Kim, S. Hong^*, A. S. Al-Amoudi, B. Park, Fouling control in SWRO desalination during harmful algal blooms: A historical review and future developments, Desalination 543, 116094, 2022 [IF: 9.8]

10. K. Park, J. Kim, S. Hong^*, Brine management systems using membrane concentrators: Future directions for membrane development in desalination, Desalination 535, 115839, 2022 [IF: 9.8]

9. S. Lee, J. Kim, E. Lee, S. Hong^*, Improving the performance of membrane contactors for carbon dioxide stripping from water: Experimental and theoretical analysis, J. Membr. Sci. 654, 120552, 2022 [IF: 9.0]

8. J. Kim, K. Park, S. Hong^*, Application of two-stage reverse osmosis system for desalination of high-salinity and high-temperature seawater with improved stability and performance, Desalination 492, 114645, 2020 [IF: 9.8]

7. H.J. Chung, J. Kim, D.I. Kim, G. Gwak, S. Hong^*, Feasibility study of reverse osmosis–flow capacitive deionization (RO-FCDI) for energy-efficient desalination using seawater as the flow-electrode aqueous electrolyte, Desalination 479, 114326, 2020 [IF: 9.8]

6. J. Kim, K. Park, S. Hong^*, Optimization of two-stage reverse osmosis system for improving energy efficiency in seawater desalination from practical design aspects, J. Membr. Sci. 601, 117889, 2020 [IF: 9.0]

5. K. Park¹, J. Kim¹, D.R. Yang^*, S. Hong^*, Towards a low-energy seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant: A review and theoretical analysis for future directions, J. Membr. Sci. 595, 117607, 2020 [IF: 9.0]

4. J. Kim¹, K. Park¹, D.R. Yang^*, S. Hong^*, A comprehensive review of energy consumption of seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants, Appl. Energy 254, 113652, 2019 [IF: 11.0]

3. J. Kim, S. Hong^*, Optimizing seawater reverse osmosis with internally staged design to improve product water quality and energy efficiency, J. Membr. Sci. 568, 76-86, 2018 [IF: 9.0]

2. J. Kim, J. Kim, J. Kim, S. Hong^*, Osmotically enhanced dewatering-reverse osmosis (OED-RO) hybrid system: Implications for shale gas produced water treatment, J. Membr. Sci. 554, 282-290, 2018 [IF: 9.0]

1. J. Kim, S. Hong^*, A novel single-pass reverse osmosis configuration for high-purity water production and low energy consumption in seawater desalination, Desalination 429, 142-154, 2018 [IF: 9.8]

Book/Book Chapter

2. S. Hong, K. Park, J. Kim, A.B. Alayande, Y. Kim, Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Desalination: Energy Consumption in Plants, Advanced Low-Energy Technologies, and Future Developments for Improving Energy Efficiency, IWA Publishing (United Kingdom), 2023.

1. J. Kim, J. Lim, K. Park, S. Hong, Fundamentals and Application of Reverse Osmosis Membrane Processes, In: N. Hilal, A. Ismail, M.K. Souhaimi, D. Johnson, editors, Osmosis Engineering, Elsevier (United Kingdom), 17-52, 2021

Academic Honors and Awards

• Outstanding Research Program Award, 2024 WKU Summer Student Partnering with Faculty Research Program, 2024
• Zhenjiang Young Talent Award, Zhejiang Province, 2024
• Grand Prize Poster Award, The 18th IWA Leading Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technologies, International Water Association, 2023
• Young Researcher Best Oral Presentation – 3rd Prize, International Conference on Membrane Desalination 2021 (MEMDES 2021), Elsevier (Supporting Journal: Desalination; impact factor: 9.9), 2021
• 2019 KU Graduate Student Award, Korea University Graduate School, 2020
• Best Oral Presentation – 1st Prize, International Conference on Membrane Desalination 2019 (MEMDES 2019), Elsevier (Supporting Journal: Desalination; impact factor: 9.9), 2019
• 2019 KSEA/KOSEN Poster Award, US-Korea Conference 2019 (UKC 2019), Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA), 2019
• 2019 World Drought Challenge: 1st Prize (K-water CEO Award), 2019 International Drought Forum, K-water, Ministry of Environment, 2019
• 2011 Korea Young Talent Award (The President’s Award), Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, 2011

Granted Patents

12. Hydrogen-based fuel cell decentralized drinking water production device, 4074663 (EP), 07/30/25, S. Hong, J. Kim

11. Desalination method capable of producing hydrogen, 3848331 (EP), 04/30/25, S. Hong,  J. Kim, K. Park, J. Choi

10. Decentralized portable water production apparatus using hydrogen gas, 10-2536593 (KR), 05/22/23, S. Hong, J. Kim

9. Desalination apparatus for high-saline water, 10-2475044 (KR), 12/02/22, S. Hong,  J. Kim

8. Tower for cleaning air, 10-2385791 (KR), 04/07/22, S. Hong, H. Shin, M. Kim, K. Yun, D. Yang, J. Kim

7. A fresh water system capable of producing hydrogen gas, 10-2328974 (KR), 11/16/21, S. Hong, J. Kim, K. Park, J. Choi

6. A water treatment system capable of backwashing membrane, 10-2328973 (KR), 11/16/21, S. Hong, J. Kim, M. Zhan

5. Water supply management system and method and computer‐readable recording medium including instruction for performing the method, 3587678 (EP), France/Spain/Germany, 03/17/21, S. Hong, J. Kim

4. A fresh water system capable of producing hydrogen gas, 10-2207458 (KR), 01/20/21, S. Hong, J. Kim, K. Park, J. Choi

3. Water supply management system, 10-2094704 (KR), 03/24/20, S. Hong, J. Kim

2. A seawater desalination plant integrated with seawater battery, 10-2055255 (KR), 12/06/19, S. Hong, J. Kim

1. Water treatment apparatus using reverse osmosis, 10-1853214 (KR), 04/23/18, S. Hong, J. Kim

20. Apparatus for producing firefighting water and method for its preparation using the apparatus (一种生产消防用水的装置和利用该装置制备消防用水的方法), 2025108168297 (CN), 06/18/25, J. Kim, Y. Liu, L. Dong

19. Integrated reverse osmosis treatment system for high-organic-content wastewater (一种集成化的高有机废水的反渗透处理系统), 2025108051387 (CN), 06/17/25, J. Kim, Y. Song, L. Dong

18. A method and device for resource recovery from high-turbidity seawater (一种高浑浊度海水资源回收的方法和装置), 2025107327667 (CN), 06/04/25, J. Kim, L. Qian, L. Dong

17. Apparatus and method for cleaning heavy metal-contaminated soil and recovering heavy metals (重金属污染土壤的清洗和重金属回收装置及其工作方法), 2024113764303 (CN), 09/30/24, J. Kim, K. Li, L. Dong

16. Hydrogen-based fuel cell decentralized drinking water production device, 22163130.2 (EP), 03/21/22, S. Hong, J. Kim

15. Decentralized portable water production apparatus using hydrogen gas, 10-2021-0050931 (KR), 04/20/21, S. Hong, J. Kim

14. Desalination method capable of producing hydrogen, 20776475.4 (EP), 05/22/20, S. Hong, J. Kim, K. Park, J. Choi

13. A fresh water system capable of producing hydrogen gas, 10-2021-0007630 (KR), 01/19/21, S. Hong, J. Kim, K. Park, J. Choi

12. Desalination apparatus for high-saline water, 10/28/20, 20204281.8 (EP), S. Hong, J. Kim

11. Desalination system capable of producing hydrogen, PCT/IB2020/054866 (PCT), 05/22/20, S. Hong, J. Kim, K. Park, J. Choi

10. Desalination apparatus for high-saline water, 04/01/20, 10-2020-0039573 (KR), S. Hong, J. Kim

9. Tower for cleaning air, 10-2020-0009318 (KR), 01/23/20, S. Hong, H. Shin, M. Kim, K. Yun, D. Yang, J. Kim

8. Water supply management system and method and computer‐readable recording medium including instruction for performing the method, 19181343.5 (EP), 06/19/19, S. Hong, J. Kim

7. A water treatment system capable of backwashing membrane, 10-2019-0061768 (KR), 05/27/19, S. Hong, J. Kim, M. Zhan

6. A fresh water system capable of producing hydrogen gas, 10-2019-0033654 (KR), 03/25/19, S. Hong, J. Kim, K. Park, J. Choi

5. A desalination system, 10-2019-0029143 (KR), 03/14/19, S. Hong, D.W. Kim, J. Lee, J.H. Noh, J. Choi, J. Kim, M.C. Sung, Y. Shin, K. Yeom

4. Water supply management system, 10-2018-0073141 (KR), 06/26/18, S. Hong, J. Kim

3. A seawater desalination plant integrated with seawater battery, 10-2018-0034850 (KR), 03/27/18, S. Hong, J. Kim

2. Water treatment apparatus using reverse osmosis, 15/819,812 (US), 11/21/17, S. Hong, J. Kim

1. Water treatment apparatus using reverse osmosis, 10-2016-0182538 (KR), 12/29/16, S. Hong, J. Kim

2. Desalination apparatus for high-saline water, 10-2475044 (KR), 01/31/24, Implementer: Grand, S. Hong, J. Kim

1. Water treatment apparatus using reverse osmosis, 10-1853214 (KR), Implementer: Hyorim Industries, 09/20/21–12/31/26, S. Hong, J. Kim

• University Grant, Research Talents for International Frontier Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Wenzhou-Kean University, 05/25-12/27
• Non-Governmental Grant, Development of core module for CSRO design software, SK Ecoplant, 04/25-10/25
• Governmental Grant, A study on semi-batch reverse osmosis scaling mechanisms using a machine learning-based scaling index, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Research Fund for International Young Scientists, Wenzhou-Kean University, 01/25-12/26
• University Grant, Clean water and heavy metal recovery from municipal surface water using membrane and electrodeposition technologies for circular economy, Wenzhou-Kean University, 06/24-08/24
• University Grant, Center for Sustainable Environmental and Ecosystem Research, Wenzhou-Kean University, 01/24-12/24
• University Grant, Development of Membrane Fouling Mitigation and Water Quality Prediction Technologies in Closed-Circuit Reverse Osmosis for Sustainable Water Production, Wenzhou-Kean University
• Non-Governmental Grant,Development of Lithium-ion Battery Wastewater Zero-Liquid Discharge and Direct Crystallization Technology, Hoimyung Waterzen (Related with POSCO E&C), 08/23-09/23

• Wenzhou City Doctoral Innovation Station 2024 (WKU-Zhejiang Jingcheng Environmental Technology), Wenzhou Association for Science and Technology, Wenzhou, China, 07/24-Current
• Wenzhou City Doctoral Innovation Station 2024 (WKU-Zhejiang Daien Environmental Technology), Wenzhou Association for Science and Technology, Wenzhou, China, 07/24-Current