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3.1 Definition of A Membrane

Membranes are interfaces that separate phases and restrict transport of chemicals. Common membrane materials are cast from cellulose acetate solutions. The casting process involves making a viscous polymer solution, spreading it thinly on a plate, and placing a second plate on top to control thickness before evaporating the solvent. Membranes can have homogeneous, microporous, or asymmetric barriers that impact transport mechanisms like diffusion or convection depending on pore size.

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36 views

3.1 Definition of A Membrane

Membranes are interfaces that separate phases and restrict transport of chemicals. Common membrane materials are cast from cellulose acetate solutions. The casting process involves making a viscous polymer solution, spreading it thinly on a plate, and placing a second plate on top to control thickness before evaporating the solvent. Membranes can have homogeneous, microporous, or asymmetric barriers that impact transport mechanisms like diffusion or convection depending on pore size.

Uploaded by

Madhuri Gupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3.

1 Definition of a membrane
It is an interface that separates the two phases and restricts the transport of various chemical species through it. Membrane can be homogeneous, heterogeneous, symmetric, asymmetric, charged, neutral.

3.2 Membrane Casting:


Common polymeric membrane material is Cellulose Acetate. Various steps of a typical casting process are:
1. 2. Solvent (acetone) is added to polymer. A viscous solution is prepared. It is put on a plate. Place another plate on top of it. The gap is of the order of

~ 0.25mm
3. 4. 5. Give a one directional motion to the top plate. A thin film is produced on the bottom plate. Take out bottom plate and place it in ice-water bath, which releases the film. Heat treat the film in hot water.

Typical casting conditions are:


Casting solution Casting temperature Evaporation time : CA 25%, Frmamide 30% and Acetone 45%. : 250C : 1 minute

3.3 Types of Barrier


Homogeneous barrier:

Pore size is 2-10 A0 Diffusion is controlling mechanism. Typical RO membrane

Microporous Barrier:

Pore size is 10-1000 A0 Both convection and diffusion are dominant mechanism.

Asymmetric Barrier:
In this case, a thin polymeric skin is cast on another polymeric support. It is shown schematically in Fig. 3.1. The skin acts like a membrane. Since the thickness of the skin is really small, the resistance offered is less and one can expect a higher flux compared to homogeneou s membranes.

Fig. 3.1: Schematic of an asymmetric membrane Transmembrane permeate flux is inversely proportional to the membrane thickness. If homogeneous barrier is the skin, micropor ous barrier may be the support.

3.4 Types of Motion of Molecules Through Barrier:


1. 1. Permeation:

1. 2. 3.

Dissolution of permeating molecules in the membrane Diffusion of dissolved molecules Desorption of penetrant molecules to the downstream side.

2.

2. Knudsen diffusion (d/ < 0.2):

Single gaseous molecules diffuse under rarefied conditions so that the mean free path is longer than the pore diameter.

1.

3. Convection (d/ > 20):

Viscous flow through the pores of ultrafiltration and microfiltration.

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