

Membrane Technology

Membrane technology has become a dignified separation technology over the past decennia. The main force of membrane technology is the fact that it works without the addition of chemicals, with a relatively low energy use and easy and well-arranged process conductions.
Membrane technology is a generic term for a number of different, very characteristic separation processes. These processes are of the same kind, because in each of them a membrane is used. Membranes are used more and more often for the creation of process water from groundwater, surface water or wastewater. Membranes are now competitive for conventional techniques. The membrane separation process is based on the presence of semi permeable membranes.

Membranes occupy through a selective separation wall. Certain substances can pass through the membrane, while other substances are caught.
Membrane filtration can be used as an alternative for flocculation, sediment purification techniques, adsorption (sand filters and active carbon filters, ion exchangers), extraction and distillation.

There are two factors that determine the affectivity of a membrane filtration process; selectivity and productivity. Selectivity is expressed as a parameter called retention or separation factor (expressed by the unit l/m2·h). Productivity is expressed as a parameter called flux (expressed by the unit l/m2·h). Selectivity and productivity are membrane-dependent.

When membrane filtration is used for the removal of larger particles, micro filtration and ultra filtration are applied. Because of the open character of the membranes the productivity is high while the pressure differences are low.
When salts need to be removed from water, nano filtration and Reverse Osmosis are applied. Nano filtration and RO membranes do not work according to the principle of pores; separation takes place by diffusion through the membrane. The pressure that is required to perform nano filtration and Reverse Osmosis is much higher than the pressure required for micro and ultra filtration, while productivity is much lower.

Membrane filtration has a number of benefits over the existing water purification techniques:

· It is a process that can take place while temperatures are low. This is mainly important because it enables the treatment of heat-sensitive matter. That is why these applications are widely used for food production.
· It is a process with low energy cost. Most of the energy that is required is used to pump liquids through the membrane. The total amount of energy that is used is minor, compared to alternative techniques, such as evaporation.
· The process can easily be expanded.

Process management of membrane filtration systems

Membrane filtration systems can be managed in either dead-end flow or cross-flow. The purpose of the optimisation of the membrane techniques is the achievement of the highest possible production for a long period of time, with acceptable pollution levels.

Membrane systems

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. Membranes are never applied as one flat plate, because this large surface often results in high investing costs. That is why systems are built densely to enable a large membrane surface to be put in the smallest possible volume. Membranes are implemented in several types of modules. There are two main types, called the tubular membrane system and the plate & frame membrane system. Tubular membrane systems are divided up in tubular, capillary and hollow fiber membranes. Plate & frame membranes are divided up in spiral membranes and pillow-shaped membranes.
Membrane fouling

During membrane filtration processes membrane fouling is inevitable, even with a sufficient pre-treatment. The types and amounts of fouling are dependent on many different factors, such as feed water quality, membrane type, membrane materials and process design and control.

Particles, biofouling and scaling are the three main types of fouling on a membrane. These contaminants cause that a higher workload is required, to be able to guarantee a continuous capacity of the membranes. At a certain point the pressure will rise so much that it is no longer economically and technically accountable.

Seawater desalination

Membrane cleaning

There are a number of cleaning techniques for the removal of membrane fouling. These techniques are forward flushing, backward flushing, air flushing and chemical cleaning, and any combination of the methods.

Membrane systems management

Tubular-shaped membranes

Plate & frame membranes

Membrane Technology:
Air pollution


About Lenntech

Lenntech BV
Rotterdamseweg 402 M
2629 HH Delft

tel: +31 152 610 900
fax: +31 152 616 289
e-mail: info@lenntech.com

Copyright © 1998-2016 Lenntech B.V. All rights reserved