• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.223-236
• /
• 2013

The paper presents an experimental set-up for osmotic membrane distillation, which can be operated continuously for several weeks. NaCl solutions were used as an osmotic solution. The influence of osmotic solution concentration on the obtained permeate flux is presented. The experimental set-up was equipped with a system for the regeneration of dilute brine. The regeneration was carried out using a method of natural evaporation to the air surrounding the installation. The evaporation area was created by the Białecki rings, assembled in the form of tower. The obtained evaporation rate was sufficient to maintain a constant NaCl concentration (over 300 g/L), for air with the relative humidity in the range of 30-80%. Accurel PP S6/2 hydrophobic polypropylene membranes were used in the study. The membranes exhibited 100% rejection for 600 h of the process duration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.353-358
• /
• 2011

In this study, ammonia removal characteristics in membrane contactor system under various operating conditions were evaluated. The mass transfer coefficient was used to quantitatively compare the effect of various operation conditions on ammonia removal efficiency. Effective removal of ammonia was possible with the tubular PTFE membrane contactor system at all tested conditions. Among the various operation parameters, contact time and solution pH showed significant effect on ammonia removal mechanism. Overall ammonia removal rate was not significantly affected by influent suspended solution concentration unlike other pressure driven membrane filtration processes. Also the osmotic distillation phenomena which deteriorate the mass transfer efficiency can be minimized by preheating of strip solution. Membrane contactor system can be a possible alternative to treat high strength nitrogen wastewater by optimizing operation conditions such as stripping solution flow rate, influent wastewater temperature, and influent pH.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.111-116
• /
• 2012

This study investigates the complete removal of nitrate and the recovery of valuable ammonium salt by the combination of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) and a membrane contactor system. The NZVI used for the experiments was prepared by chemical reduction without a stabilizing agent. The main end-product of nitrate reduction by NZVI was ammonia, and the solution pH was stably maintained around 10.5. Effective removal of ammonia was possible with the polytetrafluoroethylene membrane contactor system in all tested conditions. Among the various operation parameters including influent pH, concentration, temperature, and contact time, contact time and solution pH showed significant effects on the ammonia removal mechanism. Also, the osmotic distillation phenomena that deteriorate the mass transfer efficiency could be minimized by pre-heating the influent wastewater. The ammonia removal rate could be maximized by optimizing operation conditions and changing the membrane configuration. The combination of NZVI and the membrane contactor system could be a solution for nitrate removal and the recovery of valuable products.