Membrane advantages

Membrane bioreactors combine the activated sludge process for wastewater treatment with biomass separation from the mixed liquor by ultra- or microfiltration membranes. Advantages are the superior effluent quality characterized by complete solids removal and disinfection, the small footprint of the plant resulting from more compact aeration tanks, the absence of a secondary sedimentation tank, and the modular construction. 

Most potentiometric electrodes are selective for only the free, uncomplexed analyte and do not respond to complexed forms of the analyte. Solution conditions, therefore, must be carefully controlled if the purpose of the analysis is to determine the analyte s total concentration. On the other hand, this selectivity provides a significant advantage over other quantitative methods of analysis when it is necessary to determine the concentration of free ions. For example, calcium is present in urine both as free Ca + ions and as protein-bound Ca + ions. If a urine sample is analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy, the signal is proportional to the total concentration of Ca +, since both free and bound calcium are atomized. Analysis with a Ca + ISE, however, gives a signal that is a function of only free Ca + ions since the protein-bound ions cannot interact with the electrode s membrane. 

There are three advantages to study molecular recognition on surfaces and interfaces (monolayers, films, membranes or soHds) (175) (/) rigid receptor sites can be designed (2) the synthetic chemistry may be simplified (J) the surface can be attached to transducers which makes analysis easier and may transform the molecular recognition interface to a chemical sensor. And, which is also a typical fact, this kind of molecular recognition involves outside directed interaction sites, ie, exo-receptor function (9) (see Fig. 5b). 

Process Concepts. Hybrid systems involving gas-phase adsorption coupled with catalytic processes and with other separations processes (especially distillation and membrane systems) will be developed to take advantage of the unique features of each. The roles of adsorption systems will be to efficiently achieve very high degrees of purification to lower fouUng contaminant concentrations to very low levels in front of membrane and other separations processes or to provide unique separations of azeotropes, close-boiling isomers, and temperature-sensitive or reactive compounds. 

Electrolytic Cell Operating Characteristics. Currently the greatest volume of chlorine production is by the diaphragm ceU process, foUowed by that of the mercury ceU and then the membrane ceU. However, because of the ecological and economic advantages of the membrane process over the other systems, membrane ceUs are currently favored for new production facHities. The basic characteristics of the three ceU processes are shown in Eigure 5. 

Membrane Extraction. An extraction technique which uses a thin Hquid membrane or film has been introduced (80,81). The principal advantages of Hquid-membrane extraction are that the inventory of solvent and extractant is extremely small and the specific interfacial area can be increased without the problems which accompany fine drop dispersions (see Membrane technology). 

Another advantage of the membrane plate is its flexibiUty to cake thickness, ie, thinner cakes can be easily handled without loss of dryness. Cake release characteristics are also improved by deflation of the membrane prior to cake discharge. Alternating arrangements, in which the membrane plates and the normal recessed plates alternate, have been used to reduce cost. 

One report (13) describes the procedure for spinning dry asymmetric ceUulose acetate fiber with a bore skin. Such fibers are spun in a modified dry-spinning process in which a volatile Uquid (methyl formate) is used as the ceUulose acetate solvent. The bore coagulating Uquid is isopropyl alcohol, which is subsequentiy removed. The advantages of these dry fibers over most ceUulose acetate membranes are that they can be stored dry, they are wet-dry reversible, they can be sterilized and packed dry, and they are ready for use without removal of preservatives. 

Hollow Fiber with Sorbent Walls. A cellulose sorbent and dialy2ing membrane hoUow fiber was reported in 1977 by Enka Glan2stoff AG (41). This hoUow fiber, with an inside diameter of about 300 p.m, has a double-layer waU. The inner waU consists of Cuprophan ceUulose and is very thin, approximately 8 p.m. The outer waU, which is ca 40-p.m thick, consists mainly of sorbent substance bonded by ceUulose. The advantage of such a fiber is that it combines the principles of hemodialysis with those of hemoperfusion. Two such fibers have been made one with activated carbon in the fiber waU, and one with aluminum oxide, which is a phosphate binder (also see Dialysis). 

Considerable research and development effort is being placed on a chlorine-resistant membrane that wiU maintain permeabUity and selectivity over considerable time periods (years). This polymer activity is not limited to hoUow fibers, but the thick assymetric skin of hoUow-fiber constmction might offer an advantage in resolving the end use need as opposed to the ultrathin dat-sheet composite membranes. 

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