Reverse osmosis pore size

Fig. 25. Reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, microfiltration, and conventional filtration are related processes differing principally in the average pore diameter of the membrane filter. Reverse osmosis membranes are so dense that discrete pores do not exist transport occurs via statistically distributed free volume areas. The relative size of different solutes removed by each class of membrane is illustrated in this schematic.

The individual membrane filtration processes are defined chiefly by pore size although there is some overlap. The smallest membrane pore size is used in reverse osmosis (0.0005—0.002 microns), followed by nanofiltration (0.001—0.01 microns), ultrafHtration (0.002—0.1 microns), and microfiltration (0.1—1.0 microns). Electro dialysis uses electric current to transport ionic species across a membrane. Micro- and ultrafHtration rely on pore size for material separation, reverse osmosis on pore size and diffusion, and electro dialysis on diffusion. Separation efficiency does not reach 100% for any of these membrane processes. For example, when used to desalinate—soften water for industrial processes, the concentrated salt stream (reject) from reverse osmosis can be 20% of the total flow. These concentrated, yet stiH dilute streams, may require additional treatment or special disposal methods. 

Grade 2 water to reverse osmosis or de-ionisation, followed by filtration through a membrane filter of pore size 0.2 jum to remove particulate matter. Alternatively, Grade 2 water may be redistilled in an apparatus constructed from fused silica. 

Fig. 16.2. Reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, microfiltration and conventional filtration with distinct pore size.

Hyperfiltration (Reverse Osmosis) is a form of membrane distillation or desalination (desalting) operating with membrane pore sizes of perhaps 1 to 10 Angstrom units. The various individual RO component technologies have improved tremendously over the last 20 to 25 years, and resistance to fouling and permeate output rates have benefited. Nevertheless, all RO plants remain susceptible to the risk of fouling, and adequate pretreatment and operation is essential to minimize this problem. 

Membrane Morphology—Pores, Symmetric, Composite Only nucleopore and anodyne membranes have relatively uniform pores. Reverse osmosis, gas permeation, and pervaporation membranes have nonuniform angstrom-sized pores corresponding to spaces in between the rigid or agamic membrane molecules. Solute-membrane molecular interactions are very high. Ultrafiltration membranes have nonuniform nanometer sized pores with some solute-membrane interactions. For other microfiltration membranes with nonuniform pores on the submicrometer to micrometer range, solute-membrane interactions are small. 

According to the above mechanism, reverse osmosis separation is governed by two distinct factors, namely (i) an equilibrium effect which is concerned with the details of preferential sorption in the vicinity of the membrane surface, and (ii) a kinetic effect which is concerned with the mobilities of solute and solvent through membrane pores. While the former (equilibrium effect) is governed by repulsive and attractive potential gradients in the vicinity of the membrane surface, the latter (mobility effect) is governed both by the potential gradients (equilibrium effect) and the steric effects associated with the structure and size of molecules relative to those of pores on the membrane surface. 

Figure 2a. Experimental data on the effect of operating pressure, average pore size on membrane surface, and feed concentration on solute separation and product rate for the reverse osmosis system cellulose acetate membrane-sodium chloride-...

All symbols are defined at the end of the paper. Equation 10 defines the pure water permeability constant A for the membrane which is a measure of its overall porosity eq 12 defines the solute transport parameter D /K6 for the membrane, which is also a measure of the average pore size on the membrane surface on a relative scale. The Important feature of the above set of equations is that neither any one equation in the set of equations 10 to 13, nor any part of this set of equations is adequate representation of reverse osmosis transport the latter is governed simultaneously by the entire set of eq 10 to 13. Further, under steady state operating conditions, a single set of experimental data on (PWP), (PR), and f enables one to calculate the quantities A, Xy 2> point... 

The quantities obtainable from reverse osmosis such as f and PR can be calculated when data on PWP, pore size distribution, and... 

Figure Five (5) illustrates reverse osmosis which typically separates materials less than. 0001 microns (10 angstroms in size). Reverse osmosis offers the added advantage of rejecting ionic materials which are normally small enough to pass through the pores of the membrane. As with ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis is used to remove dissolved materials.

Ultrafiltration can be utilized to separate the emulsion and dissolved oil from water. The specific ultrafiltration membrane polymer and pore-size requirement are determined by the oil chemistry however/ the oil can typically be concentrated up to 60 - 80%, and in some cases, incinerated to recover energy in the form of heat. The permeate stream may be pure enough to be re-used, or may require treatment with reverse osmosis prior to re-use. 

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