The University Of Nottingham Malaysian Campus

School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

LABORATORY REPORT

Title: Code: Date: Name: Student ID: Lecturer: Name of tutor: Date due:

Membrane Filtration Filt 22nd March 2007 Leong Kuok Yauu Melwynn UNIMKL 001680 Dr. C.L. Law Dr. Dominic C.Y. Foo 29th March 2007

Summary An experiment on membrane filtration was carried out to determine the membrane resistance, Rm by using de-ionized water and salt solution, namely NaCl (sodium chloride). It was done by measuring the permeate flux and different pressure drops across the membrane. The filtration method used in this experiment is Reverse Osmosis. It was observed that the permeate flux gradually decreased with time in both the two different P. This is largely due to the accumulation of the NaCl salt on the filter membrane thus decreasing the amount of permeate flow as time increases. The salt conductivity, C of the feed increased over time too. This implies that the concentration of NaCl in the feed is increasing as time passes. It can be also be observed that the conductivity with a higher pressure drop takes a higher value compared to the one at P = 15bar. From the plot of Flux, J against Pressure Drop, P, the Rm was calculated to be 3.874 x 1010 m2 L-1. It can be observed that the gradient of the graph is positive. This indicates that with increased pressure drop across the membrane module, the flux, J increases.

Results Table 1: Filter membrane measurements: Diameter of Filter Membrane (D) Length of Filter Membrane (L) Number of Filter Membrane used Total Area of Filter Membrane (Am) Table 2: At P = 15bar
Time, t (min) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Volume, V (L) 0.07 0.068 0.063 0.065 0.06 0.065 0.06 0.06 0.058 0.06 0.058 0.058 0.065 0.052 0.055 Conductivity, C (mScm-1) 3.41 3.45 3.48 3.52 3.53 3.54 3.55 3.55 3.56 3.57 3.58 3.59 3.61 3.61 3.62

1.2cm = 0.012m 32cm = 0.32m 2 0.02413m2

dV (L/sec) dt
0.001166667 0.001133333 0.00105 0.001083333 0.001 0.001083333 0.001 0.001 0.000966667 0.001 0.000966667 0.000966667 0.001083333 0.000866667 0.000916667

Flux, J (L.m2.sec-1) 0.04835 0.04697 0.04352 0.04490 0.04145 0.04490 0.04145 0.04145 0.04007 0.04145 0.04007 0.04007 0.04490 0.03592 0.03799

Table 3: At P = 30bar :
Time, t (min) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Volume, V (L) 0.146 0.148 0.13 0.171 0.171 0.14 0.093 0.116 0.114 0.109 0.1125 0.1105 0.113 0.113 0.105 Conductivity, C (mScm-1) 3.89 3.92 3.93 3.96 3.98 4 4.02 4.04 4.06 4.09 4.09 4.1 4.12 4.14 4.18

dV (L/sec) dt
0.002433333 0.002466667 0.002166667 0.00285 0.00285 0.002333333 0.00155 0.001933333 0.0019 0.001816667 0.001875 0.001841667 0.001883333 0.001883333 0.00175

Flux, J (L.m2.sec-1) 0.10085 0.10224 0.08980 0.11812 0.11812 0.09671 0.06424 0.08013 0.07875 0.07529 0.07771 0.07633 0.07806 0.07806 0.07253

Flux,J against Time

0.14000 0.12000

Flux,J (L.s .m )

-2

0.10000 0.08000 0.06000 0.04000 0.02000 0.00000 0 5 10 15 20 15 bar 30 bar Linear (15 bar ) Linear (30 bar )

-1

Time (min)

Fig. 1: Graph of Flux, J against Time

Salt Conductivity,C against Time

4.4 4.2 4 C (mScm ) 3.8 3.6 3.4 3.2 3 0 5 10 Time (min) 15 20 30 bar 15 bar Linear (15 bar ) Linear (30 bar )
-1

Fig. 2: Graph of Salt Conductivity, C against Time

Flux,J against Pressure Drop

0.1 0.09 0.08

y = 0.0029x

Flux, J (L.s .m )

-2

0.07 0.06 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.01 0 0 10 20 30 40 Flux,J against Pressure Drop Linear (Flux,J against Pressure Drop)

-1

Pressure Drop (bar)

Fig. 3: Graph of Flux, J against Pressure Drop, P

Discussion Membrane technology has become a dignified separation technology over the past decade (1) . The main advantage of membrane technology is that it works without the addition of chemicals, uses relatively low amount of energy and easy and well arranged process conductions. There are currently four types of membrane processes. They are Reverse Osmosis, Nanofiltration, Ultrafiltration and Micro filtration. The main difference between them is the pore size of the filter which enables them to trap the unwanted particles or molecules and thus separating them from the fluid. A detailed difference between them can be found tabulated in the Appendix. An experiment on membrane filtration was carried out to determine the membrane resistance, Rm by using de-ionized water and salt solution, namely NaCl (sodium chloride). It was done by measuring the permeate flux and different pressure drops across the membrane. The filtration method used in this experiment is Reverse Osmosis. A salt (NaCl) solution of concentration 2g/L was fed to the feed tank and the filtration process was carried out. After allowing the filtration system to reach steady state at the specified pressure drop across the membrane module ( P = 15bar and 30bar), volumes of permeate are collected and then recorded, as in Table 1 and 2. Appropriate calculations were done and the Graphs were also plotted. Referring to Fig. 1: Graph of Flux, J against Time, it can be observed that the permeate flux gradually decreased with time in both the two different P. This is largely due to the accumulation of the NaCl salt on the filter membrane thus decreasing the amount of permeate flow as time increases. As the pressure difference forces the salt solution out of the filter membrane, water molecules passes through the pores while the NaCl salt gets trapped on the walls of the membrane. This results in a gel formation on the surface of the filter membrane which increases in thickness with time. The gel formation thus hinders the water molecules to pass through the pores easily as compared initially. Less permeate passes through the pores would then decrease the flux, J over time. It can be further observed that with a higher pressure drop across the membrane module, the flux, J takes on a higher value. Having a higher pressure drop across the membrane module gives a higher driving force for the salt solution to pass through the pores of the filter membrane. This in turn increases the rate at which the permeate is obtained and thus achieving a higher flux, J as compared to having a lower pressure drop across the membrane module. Referring to Fig. 2: Graph of Salt Conductivity, C against Time, it can be observed that the conductivity of the feed increases with time. This implies that the concentration of NaCl in the feed is increasing as time passes. As the salt solution is being passed through the filter membrane, more and more water molecules passes through the filter membrane as permeate and collected at the outlet while the retentate is fed back to the feed tank to go through the process of filtration again. The amount of water decreases as time passes and an increase in the number of NaCl per unit volume of the solution occurs. This results in the increase of conductivity, C with respect to time. It can be also be observed that the conductivity with a higher pressure drop takes a higher value compared to the one at P = 15bar. This is also due to the high driving force of the pressure difference which forces the water molecules to pass the pores of the filter membrane more quickly and thus remove the NaCl salt more efficiently. Hence, the conductivity of the solution in the feed tank takes on a higher value compared to the one with P = 15bar.

Fig. 3: Graph of Flux, J against Pressure Drop, P was plotted to determine the membrane P resistance, Rm. Based on the equation J = , the Rm was calculated to be 3.874 x 1010 .Rm m2 L-1. It can be observed that the gradient of the graph is positive. This indicates that with increased pressure drop across the membrane module, the flux, J increases. This is because of the greater driving force applied and thus a larger amount of permeate collected over a shorter period of time. There are many limitations to the use of membranes. Compaction which describes the irreversible flattening of the membrane due to pressure is one limitation of the use of membrane technology. All membranes are typically sensitive to pressure. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the pressure across the membrane module does not exceed the maximum specified pressure. In addition, it is also important to support the membrane properly to prevent pressure from squeezing the membrane into the support material. The feed flow is also another limitation. It is important to make sure that the feed flow does not exceed what the membrane can take. Membranes are very fragile and thus may give way if the feed flow is too high. Finally, viscous fluids may also be hard to handle. This is because high viscosity will lead to higher pressure drop which might not be very ideal if it gets to large. However, if great control is achieved then this would not pose a great problem. Selecting an appropriate and effective membrane to use in the filtration process is essential. The choice for a certain kind of membrane system is determined by a great number of aspects, such as costs, risks of plugging of the membranes, packing density and cleaning opportunities. The affectivity of the membrane filtration process is also equally important. The two factors that determine this is the selectivity and productivity. Selectivity is expressed as a parameter called retention or separation factor (expressed by the unit l/m2h). Productivity is expressed as a parameter called flux (expressed by the unit l/m2h). Selectivity and productivity are membrane-dependent (2). Conclusion Membrane filtration may seem to be an easy process of separation; it requires much control in terms of the pressure drop across the membrane module and the feed flow, the type of membrane to use. Without control of these factors, the filtration process may not be as efficient and reliable. Referring to Fig. 1: Graph of Flux, J against Time, it can be observed that the permeate flux gradually decreased with time in both the two different P. This is largely due to the accumulation of the NaCl salt on the filter membrane thus decreasing the amount of permeate flow as time increases. Referring to Fig. 2: Graph of Salt Conductivity, C against Time, it can be observed that the conductivity of the feed increases with time. Fig. 3: Graph of Flux, J against Pressure Drop, P was plotted. Based P on the equation J = , the Rm was calculated to be 3.874 x 1010 m2 L-1. It can be .Rm observed that the gradient of the graph is positive. This indicates that with increased pressure drop across the membrane module, the flux, J increases.

Calculations

1) The Filter membrane measurements: Diameter of Filter Membrane (D) Length of Filter Membrane (L) Number of Filter Membrane used Am = 2 D L = 2 0.012 0.32 = 0.02413 m2 2) The flux, J is given by: J= 1 dV Am dt 1.2cm = 0.012m 32cm = 0.32m 2

dV V = , where V is the volume of permeate collected at 1 minute intervals dt 60 s J = 1 V 0.02413 60

Refer to Table 1 in Results section: At P = 15bar and at the 1st minute, V= 0.07 L Hence; J = 1 0.07 = 0.00116666 7 0.02413 60 P .Rm

3) Assuming no fouling effect, J =

where: is the dynamic viscosity of the permeate (Pa.s) i.e. H2O Rm is the membrane resistance An average of Flux J at the respective P = 15bar and 30bar is calculated and Fig. 3 was plotted: P (bar) 15 30 Flux J (L.m2. sec-1) 0.04223 0.08713

Refer to Fig. 3: Graph of Flux, J against Pressure Drop, P

Gradient of graph = 1 = 0.0029 .Rm

1 .Rm

At 25oC, from steam tables, f = *890 x 10-6 kg/ms = 8.9 x 10-4 Pa.s = 8.90 x 10-9 bar.s *Thermodynamic and Transport Properties of Fluids, Rogers et al, Pg 10 Rm can then be calculated to be: Rm = 1 1 = = 3.874 1010 m 2 .L1 9 0.0029 8.90 10 0.0029

The membrane resistance is 3.874 x 1010 m2 L-1.

Notation D L Am P V C t dV dt J Rm - Diameter of membrane (m) - Length of Filter Membrane (m) - Area of Filter Membrane (m2) - Pressure drop across membrane (bar) - Volume of Permeate (L) - Salt Conductivity (mScm-1) - Time (min) - Volume of permeate collected per unit time (L/s) - Permeate flux (Lm-2s-1) - Dynamic viscosity of permeate H2O (bar.s) - Membrane resistance (L-1m-2)

Appendix

Comparison between the four different membrane filtration processes (2) Reference: 1) Available at www.lenntech.com/membrane-technology.htm, Lenntech Water treatment & air purification Holding B.V.Rotterdamsewegas, as at 26 March 2007 2) Membrane Filtration Handbook Practical Tips and Hints - Osmonics Filtration and Separations Group, Jorgen Wagner, November 2001.