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VIBRATING PERVAPORATION MODULES: EFFECT OF MODULE DESIGN ON PERFORMANCE
Citation:
Vane*, L M. AND F R. Alvarez*. VIBRATING PERVAPORATION MODULES: EFFECT OF MODULE DESIGN ON PERFORMANCE. W.J. Koros (ed.), JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE. Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 255(1-2):213-224, (2005).
Description:
A third commercial-scale vibrating pervaporation membrane module was fabricated and evaluated for the separation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from aqueous solutions. Experiments with surrogate solutions of four hydrophobic VOCs (1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE)) were performed to compare performance of this third full-scale vibrating module with the other two modules. Each of the full-scale modules were different in design which resulted in process performance differences. The three modules differed in membrane material (and thickness), membrane area, liquid flow pattern, and permeate vapor pathway. These design features and the effect on performance will be described. In addition, one of the modules was tested for the removal of hydrophilic organic compounds from water, including acetone, ethanol, n-butanol, and isopropanol. Process variables studied were vibrational amplitude, temperature, and liquid flow rate. The strengths and weaknesses of a vibrating membrane system relative to non-vibrating alternatives will be discussed.