Novel Separation Processes

1st Class test 26th February 2022 (F.M. 50) Duration: 2 hours

1. A gel layer controlled ultrafiltration occurs in a hollow fiber module (internal diameter:
0.25 mm and length: 25 cm) for the separation of 5 kg/m3 of protein solution. The feed
flow rate is 40 L/h and the gel concentration is 200 kg/m3. Diffusivity of protein is given
as 2 x 10-11 m2/s. If the module is designed to produce 150 L/day, then find the no. of
fibers required to achieve the same. For calculation of the mass transfer coefficient use:

 L
1
3
Sh  1.62 Re.Sc. d . Use density and viscosity of water. (10 marks)

2. A thin rectangular channel of length 5 m and equivalent diameter of 2 mm is used for the
treatment of brackish water containing 16 kg/m3 of salt in a RO plant. The operating
pressure is at 4000 kPa. A commercial grade RO membrane of permeability 1.8 x 10-12
m/Pa.s is used. Velocity of the solution through the channel is 1 m/s and the real retention
of the membrane is 0.975. Assuming film theory to be valid, find the permeate flux and
Cm considering that the osmotic pressure of salt is  ( Pa)  85400C . Salt diffusivity is
1.7 x 10-9 m2/s. (10 marks)

3. Consider a two-stage nanofiltration process in an effluent treatment plant. (20 marks)

FR1   FR2  

  F0   FP1  
FP2 , CP2  
C0 CP1  
 

  A feed stream containing 40 kg/m3 of pollutant is subjected to the first stage NF at a flow
rate of 300 kg/h.

(i) If the concentration of the pollutant after first stage NF reduces to 3 kg/m3 then find the
length of the rectangular channel. Width of the channel is 5 m. Osmotic pressure of the
pollutant for stage 1 is expressed as: 1 ( Pa)  5000C . Also, consider FR1  0.8F0 .
(ii) Considering that the length of the membrane module for the 2nd stage is same as that of
the previous one, find the width of the 2nd channel if the pollutant concentration at the
end if 2nd stage is 1 kg/m3. Osmotic pressure of the pollutant for stage 2 is expressed as:
 2 ( Pa)  4500C . Consider FR2  0.6 FP1 .

The operating pressure is kept at 758 kPa for both the stages. The membrane permeability
is 2 x 10-11 m/Pa.s and consider the mass transfer coefficient to be 6 x 10-6 m/s.

4. Answer briefly: (10 marks)

(i) What are the limitations of film theory?
(ii) What is solution osmotic pressure?
(iii) Name two rate governed processes.
(iv) State the difference between solution diffusion model and modified solution
diffusion model.
(v) Give one practical application for each of the four different types of membrane
based separation processes.