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Question 1
a) 3 similarities and differences between CONVENTIONAL FILTRATION PROCESS and
MEMBRANE FILTRATION PROCESS hence discuss its application in water and
wastewater treatment.
Similarities
Conventional
Filtration
Process
Differences
Applications in water
treatment and wastewater
treatment
- Ultrapure Water
Production.
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
systems are the preferred
method for ultrapure water
production for numerous
applications. With up to
99.5% rejection of all nonwater molecules. The
systems are custom
designed based on a water
analyses and can be
customized to your
specifications in
construction materials,
power requirements,
specific components and
instrumentation, and control
system complexity.
Membrane
Filtration
Process
b) Distinguish between structural characteristics and application of Hollow fibre and Flat
sheet membranes.
Structural Characteristics
Hollow
Fibre
Flat Sheet
Membranes
Applications
Gas Separation
Due to the differences
among gases in their
ability to permeate
through the silicone
membrane (not based
on their molecular
sizes). The driving
force of the gas transfer
is the gas partial
Hollow fiber membranes are membranes with a
pressure differential
diameter of below 0.1 m.
across the membrane.
consequentially, the chances of plugging of a
Landfill &
hollow fiber membrane are very high.
biogas
The membranes can only be used for the treatment
upgrading
of water with a low suspended solids content.
CO2 capture
The packing density of a hollow fiber membrane is
very high.
VOC removal
Application areas
include:
Tertiary
Treatment of
Municipal
Waste Water
Industrial waste
water streams
Question 2
a) Discuss the characteristics and differences between passive and active transport that
happen during membrane filtration process.
Passive transport occurs when no energy is required to move a substance, such as water
or carbon dioxide, from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
until the concentration is equal, sometimes across a membrane. The high-to-low
concentration gradient is the driving force for passive transport because it fulfills a
fundamental law of nature: Things tend to move from a high-energy, ordered structure to
a lower-energy, increasing randomness, or increasing entropy state of being.
The following are the classes of passive transport:
1.Diffusion
2.Facilitated Diffusion
3.Osmosis
4.Ion channels
Active transport is the process by which dissolved molecules move across a cell
membrane from a lower to a higher concentration. In active transport, particles
move against the concentration gradient - and therefore require an input of energyfrom
the cell.
In a separation process using a membrane one particular component to be isolated will be
allowed to permeate through the membrane while undesired components stay intact in the
media. A membrane can be homogenous or heterogeneous, symmetric or asymmetric in
structure, solid or liquid
b) Explain the selection criteria to be looked into when it is required to decide on the
suitable type of membrane processes.
Question 3
a) Define Molecular Weight Cut Off and explain how this criteria assists on suitable
membrane filtration process application.
Molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) is a method of characterization used in filtration to
describe pore size distribution and retention capabilities of membranes. It is defined as
the lowest molecular weight (in Daltons) at which greater than 90% of a solute with a
known molecular weight is retained by the membrane. Dextran, polyethylene glycol, and
proteins of various molecular weights are commonly used to rate the MWCO of
membranes. For example, a membrane that can remove dissolved solids with molecular
weights of 1,000+ has a molecular weight cutoff of 1,000. Membranes with this particular
MWCO would be suitable for applications in dye separation and antibiotic filtration for
sterilization purposes.
When choosing the appropriate molecular weight cut-off for specific applications, many
factors must be considered including sample concentration, composition, molecular
shape, and operating conditions such as temperature, pressure, and cross-flow velocity.
Other variables regarding the flow of molecule passage must also be factored in. For
example, linear molecules, high transmembrane pressure (TMP) and low sample
concentration can increase molecule passage, while low temperature and membrane
fouling can decrease molecule passage. It is also important to keep in mind that
qualification methods for molecular weight are not always comparable, as they vary
across manufacturers. Since there is no set industry standard for MWCO determination,
there may be some limitations to this measurement technique. Therefore, it is advisable to
select a molecular weight cut-off that is at least 2 times smaller than the molecular weight
of the solute that is being retained.
b) Categorize the membrane based on its Molecular Weight Cut Off(MWCO) and suggest
its application to treat the suitable industrial wastewater.
Table Q3 : Percentage Rejection (Removal)
Solvent Molecular
Weight (Daltons)
Percentage Removal
Categorize (MWCO)
Applications (suitable
industrial wastewater)
100000
10
Pervaporation
Treatment of phenol
using pervaporation
(EPE). With a
polyether block amide
(PEBA) membrane,
which is widely
known as aromatic
hydrocarbon selective,
a study on the
removal of phenol
from water by
pervaporation was
performed. In order to
discuss the feasibility
on pervaporation as a
wastewater treatment
process and influence
of impurities in waste
flow to membrane
performance, sorption
and pervaporation
experiments were
carried out with a
50000
35
MF
2000
75
RO
100
85
NF
phenol/water binary
solution and real
industrial wastewater.
Examples of micro
filtration applications
are:
Cold sterilisation of
beverages and
pharmaceuticals
Clearing of fruit
juice, wines and beer
Separation of
bacteria from water
(biological
wastewater treatment)
Effluent treatment
Separation of oil/
water emulsions
the applications of
Reverse Osmosis
application are:
Water softening
Drinking water
production
Process water
production
Ultra pure water
production (electronic
industries)
Concentration of
molecular solvents for
food and dairy
industries
Other applications of
nano filtration are:
The removal of
pesticides from
groundwater
The removal of
heavy metals from
wastewater
50
95
UF
Wastewater
recycling in laundries
Water softening
Nitrates removal
Ultra filtration can
also be applied for
pre-treatment of water
for nano filtration or
Reverse Osmosis.
Pre-treatment of water
is very important
when these filtration
techniques are
applied, because
membrane fouling can
easily disturb the
purification process.
To prevent fouling.
Molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) is a term used to describe a pore size of a membrane. The
smaller the MWCO, the tighter the membrane pore size.
A membrane with MWCO of 100 means it can reject molecules with the molecular weight of
100 well (i.e. >90%).