Lecture on membrane separation technology

by

Okoli, Caroline (Ph.D)

 Outline
• Membrane separation techniques
• Filterable membrane separation techniques
• Non-filterable membrane separation techniques
• Ultracentrifugation
• Applications
 Membrane separation technology
• Definition:
• Membrane separation technology is a combination of
material science and media separation technology, which
has the advantages of:

• High efficiency, precision separation, simple equipment,

energy saving, normal temperature operation, and no
pollution.

• It is widely used in the industrial field, and it has developed

rapidly in the fields of food, medicine, and biochemistry.
 Cell membrane
• A membrane is a thin section of material that acts as a phase separator ,
yet is permeable to components in solution, such as gas mixtures and
liquid solutions

• The cell membrane is a feature in all types of human cells that functions
as separator between internal and external environment of the cell and
composed of lipoprotein compounds.

• The function of cell membrane is to regulate entry and exit of substances

from the cell through membrane transport system.

• There are two types of transport on membrane, passive and active

transport.
 Membrane separation
• Membrane technology is inspired by the role
of cell membranes.

• Membrane separation is a technique of

separating mixture of 2 or more components
selectively without using heat between two
phases, homogeneous or heterogeneous and
having different thicknesses.
 Membrane separation contd.
• It is also defined thus; membrane separation is
a technology which selectively separates
(fractionates) materials via pores and/or
minute gaps in the molecular arrangement of
a continuous structure.
 Classification of membrane eperation
• Membrane separations are classified by pore size and
by the separation driving force as.

1. Reverse Osmosis (RO

2.Ultrafiltration (UF)

3.Microfiltration (MF)

4. Ion-Exchange (IE)
Principle of membrane separation
 MEMBRANE PROCESSING METHODS

• The different membrane processing methods are as

follows.

• Reverse osmosis (RO). Concentration of solution by

removal of water.

• Ultrafiltration (UF). Concentration of large and macro

molecules.

• Microfiltration (MF). Removal of bacteria, separation of

macromolecules
 Principles of membrane separation
• Reverse osmosis
 When reverse osmosis membranes separate aqueous ionic
solutions of varying concentration:

 there is a natural phenomena (an osmotic pressure) for the

water from the lower concentrated solution to permeate
the membrane to dilute the concentrated solution to equal
the ionic concentrations on each side of the membrane.
 Principles of. Reverse osmosis contd.

 When a hydraulic pressure is applied to the concentrated

solution (greater and in reverse to the osmotic pressure):

 water molecules will pass through the membrane to the

more dilute solution side. This process enables the
separation of water from ions and low-molecular weight
organic constituents.
 Applications of reverse osmosis

1.Broadly used to separate water from low molecular

weight solutes (salts, aroma compounds etc.),
which have high osmotic pressure.

2. Concentrate and purify fruit juices, enzymes,

fermentation liquors and vegetable oils.

3. Concentrate wheat starch, citric acid, egg white,

milk, coffee, syrup, natural extracts and
flavors.
 Applications of reverse osmosis contd.

4.Pre-concentrate juices and dairy products before evaporation.

5. To clarify wine and beer (De-alcoholization for low alcohol

wines and beers).

6. To determine and purify water from boreholes or rivers or

desalination of sea water.

7. Water and waste water purification.

8. Concentration of whey during cheese manufacture.

 RO materials and equipment

1. Polymer having high permeability for water, high

rejection for soluble salts and durability.

2. Cellulose acetate is outstanding being inexpensive.

3. Polyacrylonitrile, polyamides, polyurethanes are

also used, but they have low temperature
resistance and low pH range.
 RO materials and equipment contd.

4.Polysulphones and ceramic materials can

withstand high temperature and wider PH
range.

5. Operating pressure ranging from 40 to 80 bar

@ 450 to 2400 lit/h of flux.
 Nanofiltration

• Principle
 Concentration of organic components by removal
of part of monovalent ions like sodium and
chlorine (partial demineralization).
 Nanofiltration (NF)

 Is a pressure-driven membrane process that lies

between RO and UF(ultrafiltration).

 Pressure range: 10-50 bar (lower pressure than RO).

 Rejects ions with more than one negative charge

(such as SO42-, CO32-).

 Also known as loose reverse osmosis

 Applications of NF
 Removes materials having molecular weight
between 300 to 1000 Da.

 Employed for pre concentration for RO.

 Removal of inorganic salts Na, K, Cl, urea, lactic acid.

 Partial demineralization
 Applications of NF
 Reduction of salty taste as well as reduction of
salt from cheese making.

 Pretreatment for electro dialysis, ion exchange.

 Separation of dispersed particles such as

colloids, fat globules etc.
 Ultrafiltration (UF)
• Ultra-filtration is similar to reverse osmosis with
low pressure of operation.

• Principle of ultrafiltration
• membrane pore size is larger allowing some
components to pass through the pores with the
water. It is a separation/ fractionation process.
 UF contd.
• Principle contd.

• Ultrafiltration membranes enable precise

separation, concentration, and purification of
dissolved and suspended constituents according
to their relative molecule size (or weight).
Difference between reverse osmosis and ultrafilteration
 Dia-filtration

• Dia-filtration is a specialized type of ultra-filtration

process in which :

• The retentate is diluted with water and re-ultra

filtered, to reduce the concentration of soluble
permeate components and increase further the
concentration of retained components.
 Equipment for ultrafiltration

 U.F. membranes have higher porosity.

 They operate under low pressure (0.05 to 10 bar

at 2400 lit/hr of flux).

 Polymers like polysulphones, polyamides, PVC,

polystyrene, polycarbonates and polyethers are
normally used.
 Applications of ultrafiltration

 Most commonly used to pre concentrate milk prior

to preparation of other range of dairy products.

 Concentration of sucrose and tomato paste.

 Separation and concentration of enzymes, other

proteins or pectin.

 Treatment of water to remove bacteria and

contaminants greater than 0.003 μ.
 Applications of ultrafiltration contd.

 To selectively remove lactose and salts from

the whey.

 Removal of protein hazes from honey &

syrups.

 Pretreatment for reverse osmosis to prevent

fouling by organic and colloidal material
 Application of UF in medicine
• In medicine, ultrafiltration may be used to
remove extra fluids and salts from the body.

• During the treatment, excess fluid is collected

by filtering blood outside of the body then
returning the blood to your body.
 Application of UF in medicine contd.

 Ultrafiltration has beneficial effects on blood

conservation and utilization, including
increasing hematocrit, platelets, and
coagulation factors and decreasing
postoperative transfusions
 Application of UF in medicine contd.

• Ultrafiltration and other forms of dialysis may be

useful for patients with refractory heart failure.

• In contrast to conventional hemodialysis,

ultrafiltration removes water, sodium, and non-
protein-bound small and medium-sized
molecular solutes.
 Application of UF in medicine contd.

 The clinical benefits of ultrafiltration profiling are

under debate.

 In the absence of clear evidence-based

recommendations;

 Some authors suggest that ultrafiltration profiling

be considered in patients prone to intradialytic
complications, such as hypotensive episodes.
 MICROFILTRATION

 Microfiltration (MF) designates a membrane separation

process similar to UF but with:

 larger membrane pore size allowing particles in the range of

0.2 to 2 micrometers to pass through.

 The pressure used is generally lower than that of UF process.

 Microfiltration contd.
• Principle of microfiltration

• Microfiltration membranes enable efficient and precise

separation and concentration of suspended and colloidal
particles.
• Application

• MF is used in the dairy industry for making low-heat

sterile milk.
 Filtration modes
• Two modes are used in membrane separation:
a. Direct flow mode or dead end
b. Cross-flow mode

• Direct flow

 the full raw water feed supply passes directly through the
filter similar to conventional sand-filtration.

 These filters require periodic cleaning (or back washing) of

membranes
 Filtration modes contd.
• Cross flow filtration mode
 This employs a high velocity of raw water feed
flowing in parallel over (across) the membrane
surface.

 This flow keeps the membrane surface from fouling

or accumulating solids.
 Filtration modes contd.
• The appropriate filtration mode should be selected by
taking into account factors such as:

• fluid composition

• membrane material

• selectivity of the membrane

• filtration module geometry

• cleaning methods.
 Factors to consider while selecting filtration mode type contd.

• Energy cost

• Direct flow filtration requires less energy as there is no

circulating of feed water.

• With cross-flow filtration, the higher velocity of feed water over

the membrane surface (and attendant energy consumption)
provides higher filtration rates by reducing membrane fouling -
except when filtering very clean feeds.
 Function of membrane
• Membrane separations are primarily employed to separate solids
from liquid.

• The solids may be either particulate or in solution.

• Membrane separations are also used to effect liquid-liquid

separation and gas-to-liquid infusion. Reverse osmosis (RO),
ultrafilters (UF), and microfilters (MF) are membrane
technologies that employ pressure across the membrane as the
driving force for separation (a trans-membrane pressure or TMP).
 Application of membrane separation in
medicine
• Typical UF applications are concentration and
purification of virus, bacteria, fermentation broths,
colloids, and particles, as well as dissolved high
molecular weight polymer and removal of endotoxin
from solvent

• Membrane separations may be performed at below

ambient temperatures. Hence, they are suitable in the
manufacture of degradable materials such as
 Application of membrane separation in
medicine contd.
• MF is effectively used for separation and
purification of suspended solids, colloidal
particles, and bacteria from liquids. MF is also
used in the removal of particles and bacteria
from gases.
 Medical application of membrane
separation contd.
• Polymeric membranes have become widely used
as components of medical devices and implants,
drug delivery systems, diagnostic assays,
biosensors, etc.

• Membrane processes are used effectively for

treatment of patients with various pathologies for
the removal of toxins from blood (e.g.
hemodialysis) or for gas exchange with blood (e.g.
blood oxygenation).
 Medical application of membrane
separation contd.
• Membranes of suitable molecular mass cut-off are
used in:

• bio-artificial liver,
• bio-artificial pancreas,
• and as selective barriers to prevent the immune
system components from coming into contact
with implants while allowing nutrients and
metabolites to permeate freely to and from cells.
 Membrane materials
• Some qualities of a good membrane material

 They should be good film formers

 manage high permeate flows
 have high selectivity.
 They should have good chemical and
bacteriological resistance
 be resistant to detergents and disinfectants.
 Be inexpensive.
 Membrane materials contd.
• Organic membranes
Typical materials used in formulating organic membranes
are:

• -polyethylene (PE)
- polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
- polypropylene (PP)
- cellulose acetate (CA), Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)
- polyimide (PI)
- polysulfone (PS)
- polyethersulfone (PES)
 Membrane materials contd.
• Inorganic membranes
The primary materials used for inorganic membranes
are:
- aluminum oxide (Al2O3)
- zirconium oxide (ZrO2)
- stainless steel (SUS)
- glass (Sirasu Porous Glass, SPG)
•
In comparison with organic membranes, inorganic
membranes excel in heat and chemical resistance, as
well as in mechanical strength. These advantages often
offset their inherent higher capital cost.
 Types of membrane modules
• Modules are the configurations in which the
membrane are available.

• Membrane modules come in two basic

configurations;

1- self-contained
2- open immersion type.
 Types of membrane modules contd.
• The most common module type for UF and RO
membranes is the self-contained (or housed)
membrane module where feed water is pumped
through the housing.

• All feed, concentrate, and filtrate piping connections

are integral to the module.

• The open immersion type modules are placed into

the feed water tank with the membrane exposed.
 Advantages of Membrane separation

 Basically membrane concentrations occur at ambient

temperatures.

 Loss of heat sensitive nutrients and characteristics are

insignificant.

 Sensory and nutritional qualities of foods remain unaltered.

 Simple installation with low operation costs and labour.

 In contrast to conventional concentration by evaporation, no

requirement of steam boilers.
 Limitations of Membrane separation

 Change in concentration of feed affects the flux.

 Higher capital cost involvement than evaporation.

 Limited to maximum concentration to 30 per cent

total solid.

 Fouling of membranes may adversely affect the

efficiency and time of operation.
summary of membrane techniques
Separation Function of Driving force Application field
technique Membrane
Microfiltration (MF) Separation of Pressure difference Removal of bacteria
microorganism in culture medium
bacteria and culture Aseptic filtration of
medium beer and wine
Ultrafiltration (UF) Separation of Pressure difference Desalination,
protein and low- concentration and
molecular solute purification of
enzymeDesign of
bioreactor
Reverse osmosis Separation of low- Pressure difference Desalination of sea
(RO) molecular solute water
and solvent Concentration of
antibiotic
Electrodialysis (ED) Removal and Potential difference Desalination of
concentration of protein Salt
inorganic ion manufacture
Pervaporation (PV) Separation of Reduced pressure Concentration and
organic solvent difference dehydration of
Application of membrane separation contd.
• The process of membrane separation technology applied in
extraction and purification of antibiotics

• Antibiotic extraction process:

• fermentation broth → filtration or centrifugal separation or
macroporous resin adsorption → extraction → concentration →
decolorization → drying → product

• It can be simplified by membrane separation technology process:

• fermentation broth → ultrafiltration → nanofiltration (or reverse

osmosis) → decolorization → drying → product