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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
In this work, a modified Maxwell-Stefan model, which considers both the concentration polarization
and the transport through the membrane, is tested for the simulation of Dextran T70
aqueous solutions filtration. Numerical simulations by solving the model equations with an adaptive
resolution algorithm, based on the Adaptive Method of Lines, determined the concentration
profiles in the polarization layer and inside the membrane pore. It is shown that the formation
of significant solute accumulation at the membrane/polarization interface leads to high levels of
apparent rejection. A tubular cross-flow ultrafiltration module, containing a tubular polysulfone
membrane with a molecular weight cut-off of 50 kDa, was used to perform the experiments. The
model is able to successfully simulate data in the high rejection/low flux region using an equilibrium
constant Keq of 0.25, but does not reproduce the observed rejection drop/pressure build-up
which occurs for increased fluxes, which may be due to limitations of the model itself.
Description
Keywords
Modeling Ultrafiltration Maxwell Stefan equation Apparent rejection Adaptive methods
Citation
Brito, Paulo; Gando-Ferreira, Licínio M.; Portugal, António (2009). Simulation of membrane separations using a modified Maxwell-Stefan model. Chemical Product and Process Modeling. ISSN 1538-0645. 4:4, p.1-12
Publisher
The Berkeley Electronic Press