NAME: EGHAREVBA ETINOSA EKENE

MATRIC NO: PG/ENG1917950

EXAM NO: PG2019_2120978

COURSE CODE: CHE 801

COURSE TITLE: ADVANCES IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

COURSE LECTURER: PROF.C.O. OKHIEMIEN

ASSIGNMENT

The critical feature of all membrane separation is in the pore size of the filters. Discuss.
ANSWER

Generally, membrane separation is a technology which selectively separates (fractionates) materials via pores and/or minute
gaps in the molecular arrangement of a continuous structure.

The main critical feature of all membrane separation is in the pore size of the filters because the size of materials that can be
removed during filtration depends upon the size of the pores of the filter.
Pore size relates to the filter’s ability to filter out particles of a certain size. For example, a 0.20 micron (µm) membrane will filter out particles
with a diameter of 0.2 microns or larger from a filtration stream.

The separation of particles is mainly the function of molecular size and Membrane pore size distribution.

That is, the molecular size must be compatible with the pore size of the filters.

With conventional filters of micro porous membranes, these pores are extremely small, on the order of 0.01 to 10 micrometer
in diameter.

It then follows that all particles larger than the largest pores are completely rejected by the membrane.

Also, particles smaller than the largest pores, but larger than the smallest pores are partially rejected, according to the pore
size distribution of the membrane.

While particles much smaller than the smallest pores will pass through the membrane.

When choosing membranes selectivity has priority over a high permeability, as low flows can easily be offset by
increasing the filter surface with a modular structure.

The widely used membrane processes include microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse
osmosis, electrolysis, dialysis, electrodialysis, gas separation, vapor permeation, pervaporation, membrane distillation,
and membrane contactors.
Crudely, membranes applied for pressure-driven separation processes can be distinguished on the basis of pore
diameter: as reverse osmosis (RO, 0.001-0.001 micron), ultrafiltration (UF, 0.1–0.01 micron), and microfiltration
(MF, 10-0.1micron). Nano filtration (NF, 0.01-0.001 micron) membranes are a relatively new class and have
applications in a wide range of fields.
The pore sizes of NF lie between those of RO and UF membranes.
The characteristics of membrane pore structures (pore size, pore size distribution, pore density, surface
roughness, etc.) should be the backbone of the membrane industry, since such characteristics govern the filtration
properties of membranes.