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Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes

Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

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Page 1: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Membrane processes

Page 2: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Membrane processes• Microfiltration (MF)• Ultrafiltration (UF)• Nanofiltration (NF)• Reverse osmosis (RO)• Gas separation/permeation• Pervaporation (PV)• Dialysis• Electrodialysis• Liquid membranes• Etc

Page 3: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Membrane applications in the pharmaceutical industry

• Ultra pure (UP) water (RO)• Nitrogen from air• Controlled drug delivery (‘Membrane Technology and

Applications’ p13)

• Dehydration of solvents• Waste water treatment• Separation of isomers (e.g. naproxen) (‘Membrane

Technology and Applications’ pp517, 518)• Membrane extraction• Sterile filtration

Page 4: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Specific industrial applications

Dialysis – hemodialysis (removal of waste metabolites, excess body water and restoration of electrolyte balance in blood)

Microfiltration – sterilization of pharmaceuticals; purification of antibiotics;separation of mammalian cells from a liquid

Ultrafiltration – recovery of vaccines and antibiotics from fermentation broth

etc

Ref. Seader p715

Page 5: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

FEED

RETENTATE

PERMEATE

Page 6: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

• Membrane structure (dense, microporous, asymmetric, composite, membrane support)

Ref. Baker p4

RO (homogeneous dense solution – diffusion membranes)

‘pore’ diam. approx. 0.001 micron

NF ‘pore’ diam. approx. 0.001 micron

UF (pore flow microporous membranes)

pore diam. approx. 0.01 micron

MF (pore flow microporous membranes)

pore diam.approx 1 micron

Page 7: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Membrane types – isotropic (physical properties do not vary with direction)

• Microporous – pores 0.01 to 10 microns diam.; separation of solutes is a function of molecular size and pore size distribution

• Dense non-porous – driving force is diffusion and solubility

• Electrically charged microporous

Page 8: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Anisotropic - physical properties that are different in

different directions (asymmetric)

• Thin dense active surface layer supported on thicker porous layer

• Composite – different polymers in layers

• Others – ceramic, metal, liquid

Page 9: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Asymmetric membranesFlux through a dense polymer film is inversely proportional to the

thickness so it is necessary to make them as thin as possible. Typical asymmetric membranes are 50 to 200 microns thick with a 0.1 to 1 micron ‘skin’.

Thin dense layer

Microporous support

Page 10: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Membrane materials

• Polymers e.g. cellulose triacetate etc

• Metal membranes

• Ceramic membranes (metal oxide, carbon, glass)

• Liquid membranes

Page 11: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Membrane fabrication

Isotropic

• Solution casting

• Melt extrusion

• Track etch membranes (Baker fig. 3.4)

• Expanded film membranes (Baker fig. 3.5)

Page 12: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

continued

Anisotropic

• Phase separation (Loeb – Sourirajan method) (see Baker fig. 3.12)

• Interfacial polymerisation

• Solution coated composite membranes

• Plasma deposition of thin films from a gas state (vapor) to a solid state on substrate.

Page 13: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Membrane modules

• Plate and frame - flat sheets stacked into an element

• Tubular (tubes)• Spiral wound designs using flat sheets• Hollow fibre - down to 40 microns diam. and

possibly several metres long ; active layer on outside and a bundle with thousands of closely packed fibres is sealed in a cylinder

Page 14: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Spiral wound

Page 15: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Spiral wound module

Page 16: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Membrane filtration – Buss-SMS-Canzler

Page 17: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Module designs

• RO – spiral wound

• UF – tubular, capillary, spiral wound

• Gas separation – hollow fibres, spiral wound

• PV – plate and frame

Page 18: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Operating considerations

• Membrane fouling• Concentration polarisation (the layer of solution

immediately adjacent to the membrane surface becomes depleted in the permeating solute on the feed side of the membrane and enriched in this component on the permeate side, which reduces the permeating components concentration difference across the membrane, thereby lowering the flux and the membrane selectivity)

• Flow mode (cross flow, co-flow, counter flow)

Page 19: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Module selection criteria

• Cost

• Concentration polarisation

• Resistance to fouling

• Ease of fabrication of membrane material

• ΔP

• Suitability for high pressure operation

Page 20: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Aspects• Crossflow (as opposed to ‘dead end’) – cross

flow velocity is an important operating parameter

• Sub-micron particles

• Thermodynamic driving force (P, T, c etc) for transport through membrane is activity gradient in membrane

• Flux (kg m-2 h-1)

• Selectivity

• Membrane area

Page 21: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Characteristics of filtration processes

Process technology

Separation principle

Size range Molecular weight cut off (MWCO)

MF Size 0.1-1μm -

UF Size,charge 1nm-100nm >1000

NF Size, charge, affinity

1nm 200-1000

RO Size, charge, affinity

< 1nm <200

Page 22: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Process technology

Typical operating pressure (bar)

Feed recovery (%)

Rejected species

MF 0.5-2 90-99.99 Bacteria, cysts, spores

UF 1-5 80-98 Proteins, viruses, endotoxins, pyrogens

NF 3-15 50-95 Sugars, pesticides

RO 10-60 30-90 Salts, sugars

Page 23: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Models

• Ficks law (solution-diffusion model)Free volume elements (pores) are spaces between polymer

chains caused by thermal motion of polymer molecules. Diffusivities in the membrane depend on size and shape of molecules and structure of polymer.

e.g. RO, PV• Darcys law (pore flow model)Pores are large and fixed and connected.e.g. UF, MF • NF membranes are intermediate between UF and RO

membranes

Page 24: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Darcys law

Ji = Di (ciom – cilm)/l

where l is membrane thickness, ciom is concentration of i on feed side of membrane, cilm is concentration of i on permeate side of membrane.

J flux

D diffusivity

Page 25: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

• Fick's first law relates the diffusive flux to the concentration field, by postulating that the flux goes from regions of high concentration to regions of low concentration, with a magnitude that is proportional to the concentration gradient (spatial derivative). In one (spatial) dimension, this is

where J = -D(dc/dx)• J is the diffusion flux in dimensions of mol m-2s-1(g cm-2 s-1) . J

measures the amount of substance that will flow through a small area during a small time interval.

• D is the diffusion coefficient or diffusivity in dimensions of m2s-

1(cm2s-1)• c (for ideal mixtures) is the concentration in mol m-3

• x is the position, m• dc/dx is concentration gradient

Page 26: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Simple model (liquid flow through a pore using Poiseuilles

law)J = Δp ε d2

32 μ lJ = flux (flow per unit membrane area)l = pore lengthd = pore diam.Δp = pressure difference across pore μ = liquid viscosityε = porosity (π d2 N/4, where N is number of pores per cm2)J/Δp – permeance

Typical pore diameter: MF – 1micron; UF – 0.01 micron

Page 27: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Mechanisms for transport through membranes

• Bulk flow

• Diffusion

• Solution-diffusion (dense membranes – RO, PV, gas permeation)

Page 28: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

continued

• Dense membranes: transport by a solution-diffusion mechanism. The driving force for transport is the activity (concentration) gradient in the membrane. For liquids, in contrast to gases, the driving force cant be changed over a wide range by increasing the upstream pressure since pressure has little effect on activity in the liquid phase.

• In PV one side of the membrane is exposed to feed liquid at atmospheric pressure and vacuum is used to form vapour on the permeate side. This lowers the partial pressure of the permeating species and provides an activity driving force for permeation.

• In RO the permeate is nearly pure water at 1 atm. and very high pressure is applied to the feed solution to make the activity of the water slightly greater than that in the permeate. This provides an activity gradient across the membrane even though the concentration of water in the product is higher than that in the feed.

• Microporous membranes: pores interconnected

Page 29: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Separation of liquids

• Porous membranes

• Asymmetric membranes/dense polymer membranes

Page 30: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

continued• With porous membranes separation may depend just

on differences in diffusivity.• With dense membranes permeation of liquids occurs

by a solution-diffusion mechanism. Selectivity depends on the solubility ratio as well as the diffusivity ratio and these ratios are dependent on the chemical structure of the polymer and the liquids. The driving force for transport is the activity gradient in the membrane, but in contrast to gas separation, the driving force cannot be changed over a wide range by increasing the upstream pressure, since pressure has little effect on activity in the liquid phase.

Page 31: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Microporous membranes

- are characterised by• Porosity (ε)• Tortuosity (τ) (measure of path length compared

to pore diameter)• Average pore diameter (d)

Ref. Baker p 68 – Fig 2.30

Page 32: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Microporous membranes

• Screen filters (see Baker fig. 2.31) – separation of particles at membrane surface.

• Depth filters (see Baker fig. 2.34) – separation of particles in interior of the membrane by a capture mechanism; mechanisms are sieving and adsorption (inertial capture, Brownian diffusion, electrostatic adsorption)

Ref. Baker pp 69, 73

Page 33: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Filtration

• Microfiltration (bacteria – potable water, 0.5 – 5 microns). Pore size specified.

• Ultrafiltration (macromolecules, molecular mass 1000 – 106, 0.5 – 10-3 microns). Cut-off mol. wt. specified.

• Nanofiltration (low molecular weight, non-volatile organics from water e.g. sugars). Cut off mol. wt. specified.

• Reverse osmosis (salts)• Crossflow operation (as opposed to ‘dead end’ filtration)

Page 34: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Membrane types

• Dense

• High porosity

• Narrow pore size distribution

Page 35: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Ultrafiltration(UF)Uses a finely porous membrane to separate water and

microsolutes from macromolecules and colloids.Membrane pore diameter 0.001 – 0.1 μm.Nominal ‘cut off’ molecular weight rating assigned to

membrane.Membrane performance affected by:• Concentration polarisation• Membrane fouling• Membrane cleaning• Operating pressure

Page 36: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Spiral wound UF module

Page 37: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

UF

Membrane materials (Loeb- Sourirajan process)• Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)• PVC/PAN copolymers• Polysulphone (PS)• PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride)• PES (polyethersulfone)• Cellulose acetate (CA)

Page 38: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

UF

Modules

• Tubular

• Plate and frame

• Spiral wound

• Capillary hollow fibre

UF applications

• Protein concentration

Page 39: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Microfiltration (MF)

Porous membrane; particle diameter 0.1 – 10 μm

Microfiltration lies between UF and conventional filtration.

In-line or crossflow operation.

Screen filters/depth filters (see Baker fig. 7.3, p 279)

Challenge tests developed for pore diameter and pore size.

Page 40: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

MF

Membrane materials

• Cellulose acetate/cellulose nitrate

• PAN – PVC

• PVDF

• PS

Page 41: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

MF

Modules

• Plate and frame

• Cartridge filters (see Baker figs. 7.11/7.13, p288, 290)

Page 42: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

MF operation

• Fouling

• Backflushing

• Constant flux operation

Page 43: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

MF uses

• Sterile filtration of pharmaceuticals (0.22 μm rated filter)

• Drinking water treatment

Page 44: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Reverse osmosisMiscible solutions of different concentration separated

by a membrane that is permeable to solvent but impermeable to solute. Diffusion of solvent occurs from less concentrated to a more concentrated solution where solvent activity is lower (osmosis).

Osmotic pressure is pressure required to equalise solvent activities.

If P > osmotic pressure is applied to more concentrated solution, solvent will diffuse from concentrated solution to dilute solution through membrane (reverse osmosis).

Page 45: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Reverse osmosis

The permeate is nearly pure water at ~ 1atm. and very high pressure is applied to the feed solution to make the activity of the water slightly greater than that in the permeate. This provides an activity gradient across the membrane even though the concentration of water in the product is higher than that in the feed.

Page 46: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Reverse osmosis

Permeate is pure water at 1 atm. and room temperature and feed solution is at high P.

No phase change.Polymeric membranes used e.g. cellulose

acetate20 – 50 atm. operating pressure.Concentration polarisation at membrane

surface.

Page 47: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

RO

F

R

PP1 P2

P1 » P2

Page 48: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Model

• Flux equations

• Salt rejection coefficient –

R = [1- csl/cso]100

csl is salt concentration on permeate side

cso is salt concentration on feed side of membrane

Page 49: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Water flux

Jw = cwDwvw (ΔP – Δπ) RT zor Jw = A (ΔP – Δπ)

Dw is diffusivity in membrane, cm2 s-1 ( 10-6)cw is average water conc. in membrane, g cm-3 (~ 0.2)vw is partial molar volume of water, cm3g-1

ΔP pressure difference across membraneR gas constantT temperatureΔπ osmotic pressure differencez membrane thicknessA is water permeability constantNote: (ΔP – Δπ) is approx. 50 atm.

Page 50: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Salt flux

Js = Ds Ss (Δcs) zor Js = B(cso – csl) = Bcso

Ds diffusivity (10-9 cm2/s)Ss solubility coefficient of solute (= 0.035 mol/cm3.atm for sodium chloride)Δcs difference in solution concentration on feed side and permeate side of

membrane - (cso – csl) B salt permeability constant

Note: selectivity increases as P increases

Ref. Baker pp 34, 195

Page 51: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Jw increases with ΔP and selectivity increases also since Js does not depend on ΔP.

csl = (Js/Jw) ρw

where ρw is density of water (g cm-3)

Page 52: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Membrane materials

• Asymmetric cellulose acetate• Polyamides• Sulphonated polysulphones• Substituted PVA• Interfacial composite membranes• Composite membranes• Nanofiltration membranes (lower pressure, lower

rejection; used for lower feed solution concentrations)

Ref. Baker p203

Page 53: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

RO modules

• Hollow fibre modules (skin on outside, bundle in sealed metal cylinder and water collected from fibre lumens; individual fibres characterised by outside and inside diameters)

• Spiral wound modules (flat sheets with porous spacer sheets, through which product drains, and sealed edges; a plastic screen is placed on top as a feed distributor and ‘sandwich’ is rolled in a spiral around a small perforated drain pipe) (see McCabe fig. 26.19)

• Tubular membranes

Page 54: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Operational issues

• Membrane fouling• Pre-treatment of feed solutions• Membrane cleaning• Concentration polarisation (higher conc. of solute at

membrane surface than in bulk solution – reduces water flux because the increase in osmotic pressure reduces driving force for water transport and solute rejection decreases because of lower water flux and greater salt conc. at membrane surface increases solute flux) (Baker ch. 4)

• > 99% salt rejection

Page 55: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Example

See McCabe p893

Page 56: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Applications

• UP water (spec. Baker pp 226, 227)

Page 57: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Dialysis

A process for selectively removing low mol. wt. solutes from solution by allowing them to diffuse into a region of lower concentration through thin porous membranes. There is little or no pressure difference across the membrane and the flux of each solute is proportional to the concentration difference. Solutes of high mol. wt. are mostly retained in the feed solution, because their diffusivity is low and because diffusion in small pores is greatly hindered when the molecules are almost as large as the pores.

Uses thin porous membranes.

Page 58: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Electrodialysis

Ions removed using ion selective membranes across which an electric field is applied.

Used to produce potable water from brackish water. Uses an array of alternate cation and anion permeable membranes.

Page 59: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Pervaporation (PV)

In pervaporation, one side of the dense membrane is exposed to the feed liquid at atmospheric pressure and vacuum is used to form a vapour phase on the permeate side. This lowers the partial pressure of the permeating species and provides an activity driving force for permeation.

Page 60: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

PV

The phase change occurs in the membrane and the heat of vapourisation is supplied by the sensible heat of the liquid conducted through the thin dense layer. The decrease in temperature of the liquid as it passes through the separator lowers the rate of permeation and this usually limits the application of PV to removal of small amounts of feed, typically 2 to 5 % for 1-stage separation. If a greater removal is needed, several stages are used in series with intermediate heaters.

Page 61: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Pervaporation (PV)

• Hydrophilic membranes (polyvinylalcohol - PVA) e.g. ethanol/water

• Hydrophobic membranes (organophilic) e.g. poly dimethyl siloxane - PDMS

Page 62: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

PV

• Composite membrane (dense layer + porous supporting layer)

Ref. Baker p366

Page 63: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Modules

• Plate & frame (Sulzer/GFT)

Page 64: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

PV

• Solution –diffusion mechanism

• Selectivity dependent on chemical structure of polymer and liquids

Page 65: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

PV

Activity driving force is provided by difference in pressure between feed and permeate side of membrane.

Component flux is proportional to concentration and diffusivity in dense membrane layer.

Flux is inversely proportional to membrane thickness.

Page 66: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

Models

• Solution – diffusion model

• Experimental evidence (ref. Baker pp 43 – 48)

Page 67: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

continued

Ji = PiG (pio – pil)

lJi – flux, g/cm2sPi

G – gas separation permeability coefficient, g cm. cm-2 s-1. cmHg-1 (= DiKiG)

KiG is gas phase sorption coefficient

(= miρmγioG/ γiom ρisat)

where mi is molecular weight of i (g/mol), ρm is molar density of membrane (mol/cm3), γio

G is activity of i in gas phase at feed side of membrane, γiom is activity of i in membrane at feed interface, ρisat is saturation vapour pressure of i.

l – membrane thickness

pio – partial v.p. i on feed side of membranepil – partial v.p. i on permeate side

Page 68: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

PV selectivity

β = (cil/cjl)

(cio/cjo)

cio conc. i on feed side of membrane

cil conc. i on permeate side of membrane

cjo conc. j on feed side

cjl conc. j on permeate side

Page 69: Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes. Paul Ashall, 2009 Membrane processes Microfiltration (MF) Ultrafiltration (UF) Nanofiltration (NF) Reverse osmosis

Paul Ashall, 2009

continued

Structure – permeability relationships. Membrane permeability is dependent on solute

diffusion coefficient and absorption in membrane.• Sorption coefficient, K (relates concentration in

fluid phase and membrane polymer phase)• Diffusion coefficient, D m2/s

Ref. Baker p48

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continued

Diffusion in polymers• Glass transition temperature,Tg• Molecular weight, Mr• Polymer type and chemical structure, • Membrane swelling,• Free volume correlations –pores and spaces

produced between polymer chains as a result of thermal motion of polymer molecules.

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Sorption coefficients in polymers vary much less than diffusion coefficients, D.

nim = pi/pisat , where nim is mole fraction i absorbed, pi is partial pressure of gas and pisat is saturation vapour pressure at pressure and temperature of liquid.

Vi = pi/pisat , where Vi is volume fraction of gas 2.72 absorbed by an ideal polymer

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Dual sorption model

Gas sorption in a polymer occurs in two types of site - (equilibrium free volume and excess free volume (glassy polymers only where additional free volume is ‘frozen in’ during synthesis )).

Baker pp 56-58

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continued

Flux through a dense polymer is inversely proportional to membrane thickness.

Flux generally increases with temperature (J = Jo exp (-E/RT) i.e. a Arrhenius relationship – an exponential relationship with temperature.

An increase in temperature generally decreases membrane selectivity.

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PV process design

• Vacuum driven process• Condenser• Liquid feed has low conc. of more permeable

species

Ref. Baker p 370

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Applications

• Dehydration of solvents e.g. ethanol (see McCabe pp886-889, fig. 26.16/example 26.3)

• Water purification/dissolved organics e.g. low conc. volatile organic compounds (VOC)/solvents in water with limited solubility

• Organic/organic separations

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PV – hybrid processes using distillation

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continued

• Measures of selectivity• Rate (flux, membrane area)• Solution –diffusion model in polymeric

membranes (RO, PV etc)• Concentration polarisation at membrane

surface• Membrane fouling• Batch or continuous operation

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Gas separation

When a gas mixture diffuses through a porous membrane to a region of lower pressure, the gas permeating the membrane is enriched in the lower mol. wt. component(s), since they diffuse more rapidly.

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Gas separation

The transport of gases through dense (non-porous) polymer membranes occurs by a solution-diffusion mechanism.The gas is absorbed in the polymer at the high pressure side of the membrane, diffuses through the polymer phase and desorbs at the low pressure side. The diffusivities in the membrane depend more strongly on the size and shape of the molecules than do gas phase diffusivities.

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Gas separation processes operate with pressure differences of 1 – 20 atm., so the thin membrane must be supported by a porous structure capable of withstanding such pressures but offering little resistance to the flow of gas. Special methods of casting are used to prepare asymmetric membranes, which have a thin, dense layer or ‘skin’ on one side and a highly porous substructure over the rest of the membrane. Typical asymmetric membranes are 50 to 200 microns thick with a 0.1 to 1 micron dense layer.

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Mechanisms

• Convective flow (large pore size 0.1 – 10 μm; no separation)

• Knudsen diffusion – pore diameter same size or smaller than the mean free path of gas molecules (λ). (pore size < 0.1μm; flux proportional to 1/(Mr)1/2 – Grahams law of diffusion)

• Molecular sieving (0.0005 – 0.002 μm membrane pore size)

• Solution-diffusion (dense membranes)

(See Baker fig. 8.2, p 303)

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Knudsen diffusion

Knudsen diffusion occurs when the ratio of the pore radius to the gas mean free path (λ ~ 0.1 micron) is less than 1. Diffusing gas molecules then have more collisions with the pore walls than with other gas molecules. Gases with high D permeate preferentially.

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Poiseuille flow

If the pores of a microporous membrane are 0.1 micron or larger, gas flow takes place by normal convective flow.i.e. r/λ (pore radius/mean free path) > 1

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Transport of gases through dense membranes

JA = QA (pA1 – pA2)

QA is permeability (L (stp) m-2 h-1 atm-1) – flux per unit pressure difference

pA1 partial pressure A feed

pA2 partial pressure A permeate

JA flux

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Membrane selectivityα = QA/QB = DASA/DBSB

D is diffusion coefficient

S is solubility coefficient (mol cm-3 atm-1) i.e. cA = pASA, cB = pBSB

A high selectivity can be obtained from either a favourable diffusivity ratio or a large difference in solubilities.

(Ref. McCabe ch. 26 pp 859-860)

(Ref. McCabe ch. 26 pp859 – 860)

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Diffusion coefficients in polyethyleneterephthalate

polymer (PET) (x 109 at 25oC, cm2 s-1)

Polymer O2 N2 CO2 CH4

PET 3.6 1.4 0.54 0.17

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Membrane materials

• Metal (Pd – Ag alloys/Johnson Matthey for UP hydrogen)

• Polymers (typical asymmetric membranes are 50 to 200 microns thick with a 0.1 to 1 micron skin)

• Ceramic/zeolite

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Modules

• Spiral wound

• Hollow fibre

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Flow patterns

• Counter-current

• Co-/counter

• Radial flow

• Crossflow

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System design

• Feed/permeate pressure (Δp = 1 – 20 atm.)

• Degree of separation

• Multistep operation

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Applications

• Oxygen/nitrogen separation from air (95 – 99% nitrogen)

• Dehydration of air/air drying

Ref. Baker p350

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Other membrane processes

• Ion exchange

• Electrodialysis e.g. UP water

• Liquid membranes/carrier facilitated transport e.g. metal recovery from aqueous solutions

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PV lab

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Reference texts

• Membrane Technology and Applications, R. W. Baker, 2nd edition, John Wiley, 2004

• Handbook of Industrial Membranes, Elsevier, 1995• Unit Operations in Chemical Engineering ch. 26, W.

McCabe, J. Smith and P. Harriot, McGraw-Hill, 6th edition, 2001

• Transport Processes and Unit Operations, C. J. Geankoplis, Prentice-Hall, 3rd edition, 1993

• Membrane Processes: A Technology Guide, P. T. Cardew and M. S. Le, RSC, 1998

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continued

• Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook, 7th edition, R. H. Perry and D. W. Green, McGraw-Hill, 1998

• Separation Process Principles, J. D. Seader and E. J. Henley, John Wiley, 1998

• Membrane Technology in the Chemical Industry, S. P. Nunes and K. V. Peinemann (Eds.), Wiley-VCH, 2001

• Chem. Eng. Progress, vol. 100 no. 12, Dec. 2004 p 22