Mechanical separations

(Types of filter membranes, ultra filtration, micro filtration, Nanofiltration, reverse

osmosis)

Submitted to:
Madam Sidra Jabeen

Submitted by:
Muhammad Usman (08-chem-02-B)

Date: 14October, 2009

Department of Chemical Engineering

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore
 1. Microfiltration:
Process of removing contaminants from a fluid by passing it through a micro porous
membrane

Characteristics:
1. Typical pore size ranges are 0.1-10 µm
2. Excessively used in the filed of microbiology, safe drinking water.
3. Microfiltration is used where sterile (a state of being free from biological
contaminants) product is required.
4. Cake filtration is also sometimes considered as microfiltration but in this case filtration
rate is very low if particles are of 1µm or greater than it (due to high resistance of filter
cake).
5. Driving force in this process is pressure differential across membrane.

1. Nanofiltration:
1. It is a pressure driven separation process
2. Filtration process takes place on a selective separation layer formed by an
organic semi permeable membrane.
3. Because of the selectivity, one of several compounds of a dissolved mixture
are retained by membrane despite driving force
4. Water and substances with a molecular weight less than 200 amu are able to
permeate through the membrane
5. Charges of dissolved compounds also affect the selectivity of membrane.
E.g. monovalent ions will pass the membrane & divalent & multivalent ions
will be rejected
6. A demineralization of 75% is possible with Nanofiltration

1. Ultra filtration:
In this process hydrostatic pressure force a liquid against a semi permeable
membrane. Suspended solids, solutes of high molecular are retained, while water
and low molecular weight solutes passes through.

Characteristics:
1. Particle size ranges are (0.02-0.001 µm)
2. Molecular weight cutoff ranges from (300- 300,000 amu)
3. Pressure differential across the membrane provides suction. Transmembrane
pressure is generated by a pump on feed side and atmospheric pressure
exist on permeate side.
 4. Sometimes is used as a pretreatment method for reverse osmosis.
5. Separation process is used for purifying & concentrating macro molecules
(103-108amu) solutions, especially proteins.

1. Reverse osmosis:

Diffusion
Movement of molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower
concentration

Osmosis
A special case of diffusion in which the molecules are water and the concentration gradient
occurs across a semi permeable membrane.
The semi permeable membrane allows the passage of water, but not ions (e.g., Na +, Ca2+, Cl-) or
larger molecules (e.g., glucose, urea, bacteria). Diffusion and osmosis are thermodynamically
favorable and will continue until equilibrium is reached. Osmosis can be slowed, stopped, or
even reversed if sufficient pressure is applied to the membrane from the 'concentrated' side of
the membrane.

Reverse osmosis:
Reverse osmosis occurs when the water is moved across the membrane against the concentration
gradient, from lower concentration to higher concentration.

Example:
Semi permeable membrane with fresh water on one side and a concentrated aqueous solution on
the other side
If normal osmosis takes place, the fresh water will cross the membrane to dilute the concentrated
solution. In reverse osmosis, pressure is exerted on the side with the concentrated solution to
force the water molecules across the membrane to the fresh water side

Characteristics:
1. Particle size ranges from 0.0001-0.001 µm.
2. Is done at high pressure differential (3000-1000 lb/in2)
3. Used when molecular weight of particles to be retained is less than 300
4. Osmotic pressure of retained molecules is very high that is why this process is named as
reverse osmosis.
5. Often used in commercial & residential water filtration.
6. One of the methods used to desalinate sea water.

Types of membranes on the basis of their construction

materials:
Membranes are classified into following types…
 1. Sintered metal membrane:
Ultra filtration and microfiltration membranes are made from sintered stainless
steel. With usual methods a large pore distribution of 1-100µm can be achieved.
Narrow size distribution can e achieved by partially filling the surface layer with zirconium
oxide or other inorganic material.

Inorganic membranes can operate at higher temperature than polymer membranes and can better
stand with chemical cleaning and sterilization treatment.

2. Polymer membranes:
Membranes are made up of many polymers that are in the form of thin selective
skin supported on a thick layer that supports thin layer and make it withstand with
hydraulic resistance.

In industrial applications these membranes are supported by porous metal or

ceramic tubes.

Common Polymers used are …

a. Cellulose acetate
b. Polyacrylonitrile
c. Poly sulfone
d. Polyamide
e. Polyimide

1. Miscellaneous membranes:
Porous metals, porous carbon or alumina are also used in the preparation of
membranes.

Silicon and some other ceramic materials are also used as membrane
constituent elements.