The Optimization of Dispersion and Application Techniques for Nanocarbon-Doped Mixed Matrix Gas Separation Membranes.

In this work, supported cellulose acetate (CA) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were prepared and studied concerning their gas separation behaviors. The dispersion of carbon nanotube fillers were studied as a factor of polymer and filler concentrations using the mixing methods of the rotor-stator system (RS) and the three-roll-mill system (TRM). Compared to the dispersion quality achieved by RS, samples prepared using the TRM seem to have slightly bigger, but fewer and more homogenously distributed, agglomerates. The green γ-butyrolactone (GBL) was chosen as a polyimide (PI) polymer-solvent, whereas diacetone alcohol (DAA) was used for preparing the CA solutions. The coating of the thin CA separation layer was applied using a spin coater. For coating on the PP carriers, a short parameter study was conducted regarding the plasma treatment to affect the wettability, the coating speed, and the volume of dispersion that was applied to the carrier. As predicted by the parameter study, the amount of dispersion that remained on the carriers decreased with an increasing rotational speed during the spin coating process. The dry separation layer thickness was varied between about 1.4 and 4.7 µm. Electrically conductive additives in a non-conductive matrix showed a steeply increasing electrical conductivity after passing the so-called percolation threshold. This was used to evaluate the agglomeration behavior in suspension and in the applied layer. Gas permeation tests were performed using a constant volume apparatus at feed pressures of 5, 10, and 15 bar. The highest calculated CO2/N2 selectivity (ideal), 21, was achieved for the CA membrane and corresponded to a CO2 permeability of 49.6 Barrer.

Influence of organic and colloidal fouling on the removal of sulphamethoxazole by nanofiltration membranes.

This study investigated the effects of organic and colloidal fouling on the removal of a representative micropollutant sulphamethoxazole by two commercially available NF membranes. Alginate, bovine serum albumin and colloidal silica were selected as model foulants to simulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic organic fractions, and colloidal matter that are often found in treated effluent and surface water. Membrane fouling was related to the membrane and foulant characteristics and subsequently the separation behaviour of the micropollutant sulphamethoxazole under different solution pH. On the basis of these results, it was confirmed that membrane fouling is strongly dependent on both the foulant and membrane characteristics. The complex relationship among retention mechanisms, fouling mechanisms and the effects of fouling on retention was systematically delineated. Of the three model foulants selected for this study, colloidal fouling resulted in the most significant reduction in retention of sulphamethoxazole as well as inorganic salts, while flux decline as a result of colloidal fouling was quite moderate. Reduction in retention caused by fouling was attributed to a phenomenon known as cake-enhance concentration polarisation, which was a predominant mechanism of colloidal fouling. In addition, the reported results suggested that the effect of fouling on retention is also membrane pore size dependent.

Process monitoring of anaerobic azo dye degradation by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection continuously coupled to membrane filtration sampling modules.

Process integrated microfiltration and ultrafiltration based membrane sampling modules were compared by means of HPLC with diode array detection based monitoring of an anaerobic azodye biodegradation process. The sampling matrix consisted of anaerobic sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. The hydrolysed azo dye Reactive Black 5 (RB5-H) and three products (ionic and nonionic) released from reductive cleavage under anaerobic conditions were continuously monitored by simultaneously separation by ion-pair chromatography. Microfiltration membrane-based sampling showed no retention for any compound observed. Sampling by ultrafiltration significantly retained the observed ionic compounds between 58 and 83% whereas a nonionic compound was not retained. On-line monitoring of an oxygen-sensitive compound was possible whereas off-line detection failed. Robust long time monitoring could be performed for up to 1 week without cleaning the membrane.

Monitoring of azo dye degradation processes in a bioreactor by on-line high-performance liquid chromatography.

A technical solution and development of a method for on-line HPLC monitoring of bioreactor processes in a membrane reactor system are presented. Experiences in system design for the continuous coupling of a bioreactor system with capillary by-pass circuits using membrane flow cells and a dual HPLC system are reported. A continuously working integrated sample purification step by ultrafiltration with the membrane cell coupling is established. Using electrical switching valves and separated pumping and eluent systems, the dual HPLC system allows diode array detection as well as measurement of the refractive index. The application of the on-line HPLC monitoring system is demonstrated by measuring the anaerobic H-acid degradation kinetics. H-acid, 1-amino-8-hydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid, is one of the most important coupling components for a variety of direct, mordant, reactive dyes which remains in the process water and the textile dyeing effluents in high concentration.