29164 - MEMBRANE SEPARATION PROCESSES

Learning outcomes

Knowledge of membrane technology from the engineering point of view.

Course contents

1. Introduction: separation processes in general, the role of membrane technology in process industry, water treatment, biotechnology etc.

2. Definition and classification of membrane separation processes: short description of the various techniques, the concept of cross flow filtration.

3. Porous membranes: bubble point and penetration pressure.

4. Osmotic pressure of solutions, water activity, van't Hoff law.

5. Membranes structure and properties: asymmetric and composite membranes, porous membranes, membrane materials, membrane manufacturing.

6. Membrane modules: plate and frame, spiral wound, tubular, capillary, hollow fiber.

7 Mass transfer through membranes: the solution-diffusion model.

8 Concentration polarization, the film model.

9. Analysis of reverse osmosis modules, desalination, energy recovery (pressure exchangers).

10. Ultrafiltration: the gel model, applications, diafiltration

11. Membrane Bioreactors (MBR) for waste water treatment and recycling.

12. Gas separation: theory and applications.

13. Pervaporation and vapor permeation.

14. Membrane contactors: principles, comparison with conventional apparatuses, mass transfer.

15. Emerging membrane processes (forward osmosis, membrane distillation etc.).

Readings/Bibliography

1. Appunti del docente
2. Cheryan M., Ultrafiltration and microfiltration handbook, Technomic, 1998
3. Rautenbach R., Albert R., Membrane processes, John Wiley 1989
4. Winston Ho W.S., Sirkar K.K., Membrane Handboob, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1992

Assessment methods

Oral exam in two parts : 1) discussion of a project already done, 2) questions on the various topics of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Carlo Gostoli

See the website of Serena Bandini