Development of mass and heat transfer coupled model of hollow fiber membrane for salt recovery from brine via osmotic membrane distillation

Abstract

Background In this research work, a coupled heat and mass transfer model was developed for salt recovery from concentrated brine water through an osmotic membrane distillation (OMD) process in a hollow fiber membrane contactor (HFMC).The model was built based on the resistance-in-series concept for water transport across the hydrophobic membrane. The model was adopted to incorporate the effects of polarization layers such as temperature and concentration polarization, as well as viscosity changes during concentration. Results The modeling equations were numerically simulated in MATLAB® and were successfully validated with experimental data from literature with a deviation within the range of 1–5%. The model was then applied to study the effects of key process parameters like feed concentrations, osmotic solution concentration, feed, and osmotic solution flow rates and feed temperature on the overall heat and mass transfer coefficient as well as on water transport flux to improve the process efficiency. The mass balance modeling was applied to calculate the membrane area based on the simulated mass transfer coefficient. Finally, a scale-up for the MD process for salt recovery on an industrial scale was proposed. Conclusions This study highlights the effect of key parameters for salt recovery from wastewater using the membrane distillation process. Further, the applicability of the OMD process for salt recovery on large scale was investigated. Sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the key parameters. From the results of this study, it is concluded that the OMD process can be promising in salt recovery from wastewater.

Vortex-Fluidic-Mediated Fabrication of Polysulfone Ultrafiltration Membranes Incorporating Graphene Oxide

“…8−11 Currently, pressuredriven membrane processes, such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis, are considered to be well-established and reliable. 12,13 Applications of UF 14 and NF 15,16 membranes has recently become widespread. This relates to their advantageous low operating pressures and low investment and maintenance costs, suitable permeate flux, and reasonable efficiencies.…”

“…Rapid industrial development has exacerbated problems of water pollution arising from the discharge of wastewaters into the environment without sustainable treatments. , Together with an increasing demand for water for different aspects of human life, it highlights an urgent need for the development of wastewater treatment processes. In addition to conventional methods such as chemical precipitation, coagulation–flocculation, ion exchange, adsorption, evaporation, and so on, the employment of novel green technologies in wastewater treatment has recently gained more interest. , To date, there has been extensive research primarily focused on wastewater treatment using ecofriendly nanoparticles − and membrane-based processes and technologies. − Currently, pressure-driven membrane processes, such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis, are considered to be well-established and reliable. , Applications of UF and NF , membranes has recently become widespread. This relates to their advantageous low operating pressures and low investment and maintenance costs, suitable permeate flux, and reasonable efficiencies …”

Recent advances in membrane crystallization

“…Further, Vassallo et al 56 proposed a novel mathematical model to describe the crystal growth under the regulation of the membrane process, where the characteristics of a spatial mono-dimensional (1D) steady state were considered in the simulation. Ahmad et al 57 designed a mathematical model coupled with a heat- and mass-transfer process. This model was established according to the resistance-in-series concept for water transport, where both temperature and concentration polarization, as well as viscosity changes, were considered in the model configuration.…”