Membrane Technology

Bernard A. Agana, PhD

University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering

Membrane Technology
A physical separation process (similar to a filter)

Has the advantage that the separated materials are neither thermally nor chemically or biologically modified Applications include:
separation of activated sludge in municipal wastewater treatment (up to the molecular range) retention of dissolved salts in seawater desalination

Important terms:
Feed or raw solution Permeate or filtrate

Brine or concentrate
transmembrane pressure difference or transmembrane pressure

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Important terms contd:

Selectivity ability to differentiate components of a mixture

Capacity or flow (volumetric flow rate per unit surface area; L m-2 hr-1)

Operating principle of micro- and ultrafiltration membranes

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Filtration operating modes

Dead-end or static filtration

Cross-flow or dynamic filtration

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Filtration resistances

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Classifications of membranes
Pure pore membranes (porous membranes)
based on sieving effect

Pure solution-diffusion membranes (dense membranes)

differences in solubility and diffusivity are responsible for selectivity

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Pressure-driven membrane processes in wastewater treatment
Phase Separation Liquid/Solid Liquid/Solid Driving Force P, 0.1 3 bars P, 0.5 10 bars Application Separation of solid matter from suspensions Separation of macromolecular or colloids, disinfection

Membrane Processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF)

Nanofiltration (NF)

Liquid/Solid

P, 2 40 bars

Separation of dissolved organic molecules and polyvalent inorganic ions

Separation of organic molecules and of all ions

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

Liquid/Solid

P, 5 70 bars In special cases up to 120 bars

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Characteristic features of micro- and ultrafiltration
Microfiltration (MF)
Operation mode cross-flow and dead-endoperation

Ultrafiltration (UF)
cross-flow and dead-endoperation

Operating pressure
Separating mechanism

0.1 3 bars (transmembrane)

Screening controlled by covering layer, if necessary

0.5 10 bars (transmembrane)

Screening controlled by covering layer, if necessary

Molecular separation size

Solids > 0.1 m

Colloids: 20,000 200,000 Dalton* Solids > 0.005 m Asymmetric polymer composite or ceramic membranes
Spiral wound, hollow fiber and tube modules, plate or cushion modules

Membrane types

Predominantly symmetric polymer or ceramic membranes

Spiral wound, hollow fiber and tube modules, plate or cushion modules

Module types

* Dalton, numerically equivalent to the molecular weight (MW) in [g mol-1]

Membrane Technology
Typical applications of micro- and ultrafiltration
Municipal wastewater treatment separation of activated sludge and water disinfection pretreatment prior to a reverse osmosis plant phosphate removal after precipitation

Industrial wastewater treatment

Wastewater recycling and reuse as process water for different uses Recovery of water-based paint from spray booth effluents by concentration

Concentration of water-oil emulsions

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Characteristic features of nanofiltration
Nanofiltration (NF)
Operation mode Operating pressure Separating mechanism Molecular separation size Membrane types Module types cross-flow-operation 2 40 bars (transmembrane) Solubility/diffusion/charge (ion selectivity) Dissolved matter: 200 20,000 Dalton Solids > 0.001 m Asymmetric polymer or composite membrane Spiral-wound, tube, and cushion modules

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Typical applications of nanofiltration
Industrial wastewater treatment removal of color in textile, pulp and paper industry wastewater demineralization of wastewater containing surfactants

In general: Retention of multivalent ions (e.g. SO4-2, Cd2+, Cr2+) but permeation of monovalent ions (e.g. Cl-, Na+) Retention of organic compounds Separation of components with lower and higher molecular weight in aqueous solutions

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Characteristic features of reverse osmosis
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Operation mode Operating pressure Separating mechanism Molecular separation size Membrane types Module types cross-flow-operation 5 70 bars (transmembrane), up to 120 bars Solubility/diffusion Dissolved matter: < 200 Dalton Asymmetric polymer or composite membrane Spiral-wound, tube, plate, cushion disc-tube modules

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Typical applications of reverse osmosis
Industrial wastewater treatment concentration of drainage water from mines containing CaSO4 concentration of cellulose washing water recovery of phosphoric acid treatment of wastewater from bleacheries

treatment of landfill leachate

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Classification of membranes
Membrane

Synthetic

Biological

Origin
Liquid Solid

Material

Organic

Inorganic

Morphology

Non-porous

Porous

Porous

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Membrane structure
Symmetric membranes homogenous structure all over the thickness of the membrane

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Membrane structure
Asymmetric membrane made up of two layers Active layer determines the separation behavior of the membrane Support layer ensures the mechanical stability of the membrane

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Membrane structure
Asymmetric membrane (contd) Also manufactured as phase inversion membranes (active layer and supporting layer made from the same materials)

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Membrane module forms

Membrane form
Module form

Tubular
Tube module Capillary module Hollow-fiber module

Flat
Spiral-wound module Cushion module Plate module Disc-tube module

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Tube module

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Capillary or hollow-fiber modules

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Spiral-wound modules

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Cushion module

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Disc-tube module

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Membrane Arrangement
Series connection Parallel connection

Membrane cleaning on flow (@ constant pressure)

Reference:
Pinnekamp, J. & Friedrich, H. (eds.) 2006. Municipal Water and Waste Management : Membrane Technology for Waste Water Treatment, Aachen: FiW VERLAG.

Reference Journals:
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Desalination Journal
Journal of Membrane Science

Membrane Technology
Separation & Purification Technology Water Research