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Classification of membrane
separation process for liquid systems
MICROFILTRATION
Pressure gradient (driving force) , 0.1
to 10 micrometer , small particles ,
large colloids and microbial cells
ULTRAFILTRATION
Pressure gradient - <0.1micrometer to
5 nm emulsions, colloids,
macromolecules, proteins
Classification of membrane
separation process for liquid systems
NANOFILTRATION
Pressure driven- ~1nm removes
dissolved salts and organics
REVERSE OSMOSIS (HYPERFILTRATION)
Pressure driven - <1 nm removes
dissolved salts and small organics
Classification of membrane
separation process for liquid systems
Dialysis
Concentration gradient- <5nm
treatment of renal failure
ELECTRODIALYSIS
Electric field gradient - <5 nm <
dissolved salts
Nature of synthetic
membrane
Most of the pressure driven
membranes are made of polymers.
They were initially made of cellulose
acetate but now being replaced by
polyamide, polycarbonate and
polysulfone.
The synthetic polymers improved the
chemical stability and microbial
degradation.
Tubular Modules
Tubular modules are used where it is advantageous to have
a turbulent regime.
An example of this is a feed containing high conc. Of solids
The membrane is cast on inside a porous support tube
which is often housed in a perforated steel pipe.
Each module has a cluster of series tube held within a
permeate shroud.
The feed is pumped at high reynolds number
They can be easily cleaned and good deal of operating
data exist for them.
Low membrane surface area compared with the overall
dimensions
Ultrafiltration
The solutes rejected by this method will be
of molecular weights 1000 or more
depending on the MWCO of the membrane.
The process liquid, dissolved salts and low
molecular weight organics pass through this
membranes
The pressure applied across is generally 0.1
to 0.7 MN/m2
In industry UF is always operated in cross
flow mode.