Continuous-membrane column mixture

Earlier papers on the continuous membrane column (28,29) have discussed the separation of CO2-N2, CO2-O2 and O2-N2 (air) mixtures in stripper, enricher and total column units composed of 35 silicone rubber capillaries. A characterization of the membrane column using a membrane unit concept (analogous to transfer unit concept — HTU, NTU) has also been presented. The purpose of this paper is to present some new data and discussions on the extended study of continuous membrane column. Specifically, the topics of multicomponent separations, Inherent simulation difficulties, composition minima in the enriching section, variation of experimental parameters, and local HMU variation along the column will be covered. 

One of the next steps in developing the continuous membrane column will be to obtain extensive data on multicomponent systems. Some preliminary experiments with a C02 CH -N2 mixture using a stripper have already been conducted. The results of two such experiments are presented in Figures 3 and 4. The agreement between experiment and model is excellent. 

Figure 8.1.4. (a) Type (4) systems. Countercurrent flow of feed gas mixture and permeated gas mixture in a membrane device, (b) Continuous membrane column method of gas mixture separation, (c) Countercurrent dialyzer with the feed solution and the dialyzing liquid entering the device countercurrently on two sides of the membrane. 

Intelligent engineering can drastically improve process selectivity (see Sharma, 1988, 1990) as illustrated in Chapter 4 of this book. A combination of reaction with an appropriate separation operation is the first option if the reaction is limited by chemical equilibrium. In such combinations one product is removed from the reaction zone continuously, allowing for a higher conversion of raw materials. Extractive reactions involve the addition of a second liquid phase, in which the product is better soluble than the reactants, to the reaction zone. Thus, the product is withdrawn from the reactive phase shifting the reaction mixture to product(s). The same principle can be realized if an additive is introduced into the reaction zone that causes precipitation of the desired product. A combination of reaction with distillation in a single column allows the removal of volatile products from the reaction zone that is then realized in the (fractional) distillation zone. Finally, reaction can be combined with filtration. A typical example of the latter system is the application of catalytic membranes. In all these cases, withdrawal of the product shifts the equilibrium mixture to the product. 

Figure 19.6. Gas permeation equipment and performance, (a) Cutaway of a Monsanto Prism hollow fiber module for gas separation by permeation, (b) Flowsketch of a continuous column membrane gas separator, (c) Composition profiles of a mixture of C02 and Oz in a column 5 m long operated at total reflux [Thorman and Hwang in ( Turbak, Ed.), Synthetic Membranes II, American Chemical Society, Washington DC, 1981, pp. 259-279],...

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