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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
Membrane Technology
Important terms contd:
Membrane Technology
Filtration operating modes
Membrane Technology
Filtration resistances
Membrane Technology
Classifications of membranes
Pure pore membranes (porous membranes)
based on sieving effect
Membrane Technology
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
Nanofiltration (NF)
Liquid/Solid
P, 2 40 bars
Liquid/Solid
Membrane Technology
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
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
Module types
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
Membrane Technology
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
Membrane Technology
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
Membrane Technology
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
Membrane Technology
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
Membrane Technology
Classification of membranes
Membrane
Synthetic
Biological
Origin
Liquid Solid
Material
Organic
Inorganic
Morphology
Non-porous
Porous
Porous
Membrane Technology
Membrane structure
Symmetric membranes homogenous structure all over the thickness of the membrane
Membrane Technology
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
Membrane Technology
Membrane structure
Asymmetric membrane (contd) Also manufactured as phase inversion membranes (active layer and supporting layer made from the same materials)
Membrane Technology
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
Membrane Technology
Tube module
Membrane Technology
Capillary or hollow-fiber modules
Membrane Technology
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
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