Fiber separation processes

The fiber extraction (milling) process must be chosen so as to optimize recovery of the fibers in the ore, while minimizing reduction of fiber length. Since the asbestos fibers have a chemical composition similar to that of the host rock, the separation processes must rely on differences in the physical properties between the fibers and the host rock rather than on differences in their chemical properties (33). 

Because p-xylene is the most valuable isomer for producing synthetic fibers, it is usually recovered from the xylene mixture. Fractional crystallization used to be the method for separating the isomers, but the yield was only 60%. Currently, industry uses continuous liquid-phase adsorption separation processes.The overall yield of p-xylene is increased... 

In investigations of the failure of fiber compositions (PETP — short glass fibers) [251] it was found that the main process responsible for composite failure under load is the rupture at the matrix-fiber interface. The author of [251] observed formation of microvoids in loaded samples, both at the interphases and in the bulk. The microvoids, or cavities) grow in size and become interconnected by microcracks, and this results in fiber separation from the binder. However, when the matrix-fiber bond is strong enough, the cavities appear mostly in the bulk of matrix, the failure of the specimen does not over-power cohesion and traces of polymer remain on the fibers. 

In the present study, we fabricated hollow fiber membrane modules and performed experiments at several conditions. The energy consumption of this process is compared to those of conventional gas absorption processes and membrane gas separation processes. 

Often, ion exchangers are made into membranes (flat sheets, rolled sheets, capillaries, hollow fibers) separating different solutions. On the one hand, this can serve to make the ion-exchange processes continuous on the other hand, further technological opportunities arise (discussed in Section 26.2.3). 

Table 21.3 presents an overview of wood pulping types by the method of fiber separation, resultant fiber quality, and percent of 1998 U.S. pulp production.1112 Many mills perform multiple pulping processes at the same site, most frequently nondeink secondary fiber pulping and paper-grade kraft... 

Process Category Fiber Separation Method Fiber Quality Examples % of Total 1998 U.S. Wood Pulp Production... 

Mechanical pulping accounted for 9% of U.S. pulp production in 2000.1 Mechanically produced pulp is of low strength and quality. Such pulps are used principally for newsprint and other nonpermanent paper goods. Mechanical pulping uses physical pressures instead of chemicals to separate furnish fibers. The processes include the following ... 

Modern C3 materials for automotive applications, such as components of the car body, are synthesized according to the flow scheme of Fig. 9.2. Here an integrated synthesis of both filler and binder components is taken as a cost-effective approach. In high-tech applications it is more customary to independently optimize the preparation of the fiber component [15,19, 20, 36, 37] and then the C3 synthesis in separate processes with extensive quality control measures in-between. 

Wood chips are preheated in steam before passage through disc refiners. Heating is meant for softening the lignin portion of wood and to promote fiber separation. This pulp is stronger than that produced by the ground-wood process. 

Fig 5. Hollow fiber reverse osmosis module used in desalination and other separation processes. Tmoho C o. Lnl.. Osaka, Japan)... 

Research on separation processes demonstrated that hydrophobic oilladen surfactant was efficiently regenerated through the use of state-of-the-art hollow fiber membrane columns. Specifically, the hydrophobic oil dodecane was effectively separated from the surfactant system SDBS/IPA/NaCl (Table VI). This separation was accomplished by counterflowing the oil/surfactant solution, comprised of 10.3 ml. dodecane per 100ml. of SDBS/IPA/NaCl solution, with the extraction solvent squalane. These results demonstrate the ability to effectively regenerate and reuse these surfactant systems. 

The membrane separation processes described above represent the bulk of the industrial membrane separation industry. Another process, dialysis, is not used industrially but is used on a large scale in medicine to remove toxic metabolites from blood in patients suffering from kidney failure. The first successful artificial kidney was based on cellophane (regenerated cellulose) dialysis membranes and was developed in 1945. Over the past 50 years, many changes have been made. Currently, most artificial kidneys are based on hollow-fiber membranes formed into modules having a membrane area of about 1 m2 the process is illustrated in Figure 1.7. Blood is circulated through the center of the fiber, while isotonic... 

Removal of carbon dioxide is the only membrane-based natural gas separation process currently practiced on a large scale—more than 200 plants have been installed, some very large. Most were installed by Grace (now Kvaerner-GMS), Separex (UOP) and Cynara and all use cellulose acetate membranes in hollow fiber or spiral-wound module form. More recently, hollow fiber polyaramide (Medal) membranes have been introduced because of their higher selectivity. 

While both of these devices use hollow fiber membranes similar to the primary components of kidney dialyzer units, the difference between the two techniques lies in how the analyte undergoes mass transport into the device. Microdialysis sampling is a diffusion-based separation process that requires the analyte to freely diffuse from the tissue space into the membrane inner lumen in order to be collected by the perfusion fluid that passes through the inner lumen of the fiber. Ultrafiltration pulls sample fluid into the fiber lumen by applying a vacuum to the membrane (Figure 6.1). 

FIGURE 10 Current asymmetric hollow-fiber formation process for gas separation membranes. 

The bast is prepared by retting, but the end product is not separated down to individual fibers. After processing, the bast is left in its original form, in long bundles that are usually brown from the tannins present in these plants. The bast fibers are from 4 to 7 feet long and large, with a diameter of 20—25 mm. 

Monsanto and Ube (Japan) developed membrane processes for purification of hydrogen gas mixtures. This process is based on the selective diffusion of hydrogen through semi-permeable membranes in the form of hollow fibers. The Monsanto PRISM separator process (owned by Air Products as of 2004) uses a polysulfone fiber whereas Ube uses an aromatic polyimide fiber.46... 

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