Recovery of dilute acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE) solvents from aqueous solutions via membrane distillation

Abstract

The simultaneous recovery of dilute acetone± butanol±ethanol (ABE) solvents from aqueous solutions by air gap membrane distillation was theoretically assessed. A previously developed and validated Stefan± Maxwell based mathematical model was used for this purpose. It was found that membrane distillation could successfully be used for the recovery of these solvents. Interestingly it was found that butanol could be separated with the highest selectivity and¯ux though it has the highest boiling point. The effect of operating conditions such as feed and cooling surface temperatures, air gap width, and individual component concentration on thē ux and selectivity of these solvents was examined and discussed in this paper.

A framework for better understanding membrane distillation separation process

“…Table 1 broadly summarizes areas where the different MD configurations were examined, on laboratory scale, and found to be applicable. In more details, MD has been applied for separation of non-volatile components from water like ions, colloids, macromolecules [1,2,23,[28][29][30][31][32], for the removal of trace volatile organic compounds from water such as benzene, chloroform, trichloroethylene [1,[33][34][35][36][37][38] or the extraction of other organic compounds such as alcohols from dilute aqueous solutions [1,[39][40][41][42]. MD is suited for both distilled water production or for the concentration of aqueous solutions.…”

Fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber membranes by electro-spinning for direct contact membrane distillation

“…The intention of using a solvent mixture is to accelerate solvent evaporation, as the vapour pressure of DMF (0.38 kPa at 20 1C) and acetone (25 kPa at 20 1C) are higher than DMAC (0.18 kPa at 20 1C). It turns out that white and almost dry membranes were obtained when the dope solution was prepared using DMF/acetone as the solvent (dopes [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Therefore, to ensure smooth spinning and obtain good membranes, low concentrated PVDF HSV900 dopes with a mixed solvent of DMF and Acetone were used in further studies (dope 4-9).…”

“…MD has potential to produce high-quality water, yield colloid or ionic concentrated solutions and remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wastewater [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. There are four different MD configurations including direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD), sweeping gas membrane distillation (SGMD), vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) and air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) [8][9][10][11][12], in which mass and heat transfer occur simultaneously.…”

Separation technologies for the recovery and dehydration of alcohols from fermentation broths

“…Further complicating this matter, in order to Another membrane process, membrane distillation, is oft en mentioned alongside pervaporation for the recovery of orga nic compounds, such as alcohols from water. 3,122,135,189,[202][203][204][205][206][207][208][209][210] In membrane distillation, however, a porous membrane rather than a nonporous membrane separates the feed liquid from the gas or vacuum purge applied on the permeate side of the membrane. In the case of a vacuum purge, the process is commonly referred to as vacuum membrane distillation.…”