Membrane Separations of Liquid Mixtures

Abstract

In recent years considerable attention has been given to the need for reduced energy costs in the chemical processing industry. A major portion of the energy consumed in this industry is associated with the separation and recovery of chemicals. Membrane processes offer energy-efficient, cost-effective methods of separating and concentrating liquid mixtures. In comparison to distillation for example, the energy savings associated with the membrane process rests in the fact that no costly phase change is required. This paper introduces various separation processes (reverse osmosis, ultrafitration, and microfiltration) and their current applications. The discussion includes a brief overview of recent developments that should enable the applicability of membrane processes to expand in the near future.