Unit I

Introduction to Membrane
Separations
Importance of separation operation

Indispensable part of Downstream operation

Enrichment, Concentration, purification, refining and

isolation of any desired product from a mixture

Design of separation operation – Core capability of

a process engineer

Difference – Size, Shape, Vapor pressure, Solubility, etc…

Types of separation operation

Separation

Equilibrium separation Rate governed separation

Eg: evaporation, distillation, Eg: Membrane separation
Extraction, absorption and
Adsorption
Types of separation operation
Equilibrium separation – Eg: Absorption
Types of separation operation
Equilibrium separation
A first phase comprising a mixture to be separated is brought into
intimate contact with a second phase.

After certain time, thermodynamic equilibrium is established between

the two phases.

However, the analytical concentrations of a component in the two

phases may differ.

If the two phases are separated by an appropriate means, the

enriched component can be recovered usually by establishing a new
equilibrium at a different temperature/pressure.
Types of separation operation
Rate governed Separation:

Separation based on difference in transport rate

through some medium under the influence of a
driving force resulting from a gradient in pressure
concentration, temperature or electric field.
What is membrane?
Originates form Latin word “membrana” meaning skin

Membrane – Barrier which separates two phases and

restricts transport of various chemicals in a selective
manner

Lateral dimensions much greater than thickness

Selective (or) a containing barrier

Membrane is defined by what it does and not by what

it is
What is membrane?
Membrane

Homogenous Heterogeneous

Membrane

Symmetric Asymmetric

Membrane

Solid Liquid
What is membrane?

Membrane

Positive Negative

Membrane

Neutral bipolar
What is membrane?
Transport through membrane – effected by convection
or by diffusion of individual molecules – induced by
electric field or concentration, pressure or
temperature gradient.

Membrane – Physically or Chemically modify the

permeating spices (Eg: ion exchange)

Permselectivity – important characteristic of

membrane.
Basic principle of Membrane separation
Porous membrane – According to size of particles

Non Porous membrane – According to chemical

affinities between components and membrane
materials

Membrane sharply alter the rates of mass transfer

Flux through membrane:

Driving force
Flux = Membrane permeability * --------------------------
Membrane thickness
Basic principle of Membrane separation
Based on thermodynamics, 3 types of transport
through membranes.

1. Active transport

2. Passive transport

3. Facilitated or carrier mediated transport

Advantages of Membrane processes
•Appreciable energy savings

•Clean technology with operational ease

•Replaces the conventional processes

•Recovery of high value products

•Greater flexibility in designing systems

•Hybrid process development

Disadvantages of Membrane processes
•Membrane fouling

•Temperature limitation

•Expensive process

•Chemical incompatibilities
Areas of Application
Chemical industry
•Production of process water for industrial use
•Waste water treatment
•Desalting of food, acid and reactive dyes
•Concentration of all types of dyes and solution
•PEM fuel cell
•Green house gas separation
Pharmaceutical industry
•Concentration and purification of soluble macro
molecules such as plasma proteins, vaccines,
enzymes and yeasts.
•Endotoxin free water
•Process water
Areas of Application
Food and Dairy industry
•Lactose and protein concentration
•Concentration of whole and skim milk
•Lactose protein separation
•Gelatin concentration
•Concentration of extracts of vanilla, lemon peel,
malt, etc.
Areas of Application
Biotechnology industry
•Enzyme concentration
•Fermentation broth clarification
•Separation of antibiotics and vitamins
•Purification and concentration of vitamins
•Tissue culture reactor systems
•Bio remediation