ADDIS ABABA SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

College of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Department of chemical engineering/ process and product design
stream

Advanced separation process

Assignment #2

Prepared by: -
Estifanos Kassahun
Abdela Kedir

Submitted to: -
Dr. Girma Gonfa
 1. Describe the working principles of membrane distillation and
adsorption distillation?

MEMBRANE DISTILLATION

In membrane distillation(MD), the membrane as separating agent can be

used for separating the mixture with close boiling point or forming
azeotrope, but this separating agent needn’t to be recycled. These
separation principle of MD is based on the selectivity of membrane
material to the components with different structures and properties.

The basic difference between MD and conventional membrane is the

driving force for mass transfer in the membrane. Unlike in convectional
membranes, the driving force in MD is thermal driven. It is termed as
membrane distillation because it’s similarity with conventional distillation
as both depends on vapor-liquid equilibrium However, it is not necessary
to heat the feed solution to the temperature of its boiling point.

MD is a thermally driven process, in which water vapour transport occurs

through a non-wetted porous hydrophobic membrane. The term MD
comes from the similarity between conventional distillation process and its
membrane variant as both technologies are based on the vapour-liquid
equilibrium for separation and both of them require the latent heat of
evaporation for the phase change from liquid to vapour which is achieved
by heating the feed solution. The driving force for MD process is given by
the vapour pressure gradient which is generated by a temperature
difference across the membrane.
As the driving force is not a pure thermal driving force, membrane
distillation can be held at a much lower temperature than conventional
thermal distillation.
The hydrophobic nature of the membrane prevents penetration of the
pores by aqueous solutions due to surface tensions, unless a
transmembrane pressure higher than the membrane liquid entry pressure
(LEP) is applied. Therefore, liquid/vapour interfaces are formed at the
entrances of each pore. The water transport through the membrane can
be summarized in three steps:
(1) formation of a vapour gap at the hot feed solution–membrane interface;
(2) transport of the vapour phase through the microporous system;
(3) condensation of the vapour at the cold side membrane–permeate
solution interface

Present the membranes employed in MD are those made for microfiltration

purposes, because most of their quired specifications by MD processes are
available from those membranes.

Hydrophobic microporous membranes made of polypropylene(PP),

polyethylene(PE), and polyvinylidenefluoride(PVDF) are the commonly
used membranes in MD. These membranes are fabricated in the form of
either flat sheets or hollow fibers.

Membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging thermally driven membrane

process in which a hydrophobic microporous membrane separates a
heated feed solution and a cooled receiving phase. They offer a number of
advantages over conventional separation methods in a wide variety of
applications such as distillation and evaporation. Membrane processes
can be easily scaled up due to their compact and modular design; they are
able to transfer specific components selectively; they are energy efficient
systems operating under moderate temperature conditions ensuring
gentle product treatment.

There are four configurations developed to perform MD process:

 Direct contact membrane distillation(DCMD)
 Air gap membrane distillation(AGMD)
 Sweeping gas membrane distillation(SGMD)
 Vacuum membrane distillation(VMD).
The difference among these configurations is the way in which the vapour
(migrating from the vapour liquid interface of the membrane surface at the
feed side to that at the permeate side) is condensed and/or removed out
of the module.

A. Direct contact membrane distillation(DCMD)

In DCMD two chambers are separated by a flat sheet microporous

membrane. The feed stream (with high temperature) and the permeate
stream (with low temperature) flow a cross the two chambers, respectively.
Within the liquid-vapor interface at the feed side, the more volatile
component vaporizes and passes through the membrane on to the liquid-
vapor interface at the permeate side where it condensates.
Direct contact means that both the feed and the permeate liquid are in
direct contact with the membrane in the chambers. Among the four MD
configurations, DCMD is the most extensively studied because of the
convenience to set up in laboratory and the sufficiently high flux rate in
comparison with other MD configurations.

However, for the industrial consideration, some disadvantages are related

with DCMD application in spite of the poor conductivity of polymeric
material, heat transfer takes place from feed side to permeate side of the
membrane. This results in low thermal efficient in DCMD.

Secondly, it is necessary to prepare enough permeate fluid in advance for

its direct contact with membrane while flowing across the cooling
chamber. As the condensate is mixed with the fluid in the cooling chamber,
detecting the leakage or wetting of the membrane isn't easy.

B. Air gap membrane distillation(AGM)

In the air gap membrane distillation configuration an air gap is introduced

by using a plate to compart the cooling chamber from the membrane. In
this configuration the migrated vapour molecules out of the membrane
pores have to pass through the air gap and then condense on the plate,
and the condensate formed is drained out of the air gap by gravity.

In the cooling chamber the coolant is used for removing the latent heat
released during the condensation of the vapour to liquid.
 C. Sweeping gas membrane distillation(SGM)

In this case air is blown into the cooling chamber and making the air flow
tangentially over the surface of the membrane, instead of using a stagnant
air layer comparting the membrane and the condensing surface. This
promote the mass transfer in this region while the heat loss is minimal.

D. Vacuum membrane distillation(VMD)

In VMD, the feed solution in direct contact with the membrane surface is
kept at pressures lower than the minimum entry pressure; at the other
side of the membrane, the permeate pressure is often maintained below
the equilibrium vapour pressure by a vacuum pump.
In this configuration, similar to SGMD, the vapour permeated also doesn't
condense in the cooling chamber, but is taken out by vacuum and
condense in an external condenser.

The total pressure difference between the two sides of the membrane
causes a convective mass flow through the pores that contributes to the
total mass transfer of VMD.
ADSORPTION DISTILLATION

In adsorption distillation, active adsorbents are added to the distillation

column as separating agent. For instance, the separation of water and
ethanol using molecular sieves as adsorbent. The water rich feed is
separated in first distillation column where pure water obtained as bottom
product and water-ethanol azeotrope as overhead vapour product. The
Azeotropic mixture is sent to adsorption column where water is primarily
adsorbed by molecular sieve.

The molecular sieve dehydration technology utilizes the adsorption

phenomenon, and this is used to produce anhydrous ethanol. The
technology was first used in ethanol drying in the early eighties, and has
since gained significant popularity. These Molecular Sieves for Ethanol
drying are made of popular materials called zeolites (chemically known as
aluminosilicates as well).

The industrial process essentially involved passing the vapour form of

ethanol through a column of the molecular sieve, which separates any
water present in the vapour form from the ethanol by trapping its
molecules onto its surface while allowing molecules of ethanol to pass
through. Two different sub zones of operation are provided within a master
transfer zone so that the two liquids part ways without any further
interaction. Thus, the ‘drying out’ of ethanol is achieved.

Ethanol drying with the help of molecular sieve technology has become the
most attractive option for industries due to some very compelling reasons.
By reducing the energy requirements in comparison to other methods like
azeotropic distillation, extractive distillation or membrane separation, the
operating cost has been significantly reduced. This process also does not
use any other chemical, hence eliminating the chance of contaminating
ethanol with any other substance completely. The cost of the usage of such
chemicals is also thus automatically eliminated altogether. This in turn
also translates into higher alcohol recovery from the process, thus leading
to greater revenue for the industry.

There are two types of adsorption distillation:

 Fixed-bed adsorption distillation(FAD) and suspension adsorption
distillation(SAD).
 In FAD the separating agent is stagnantly supported in the column
as the catalyst in FCD, while in SAD the separating agent is
constantly moving in the column as the catalyst in SCD.
Fixed-bed Adsorption Distillation
It involves replacement of the inert packing material in packed bed
distillation column by an active packing material. The active packing
material can be molecular sieves, ion-exchange resin sand soon.
FAD is an environment friendly process because no extra organic solution
is introduced except the components to be separated, and thus there
doesn't exist solvent loss, unlike Azeotropic distillation and extractive
distillation.

Suspension Adsorption Distillation(SAD)

In SAD the tiny solid particles are used as the adsorption agent and
blended with liquid phase in the column.
 2. What is the advantage and limitation of Azeotropic distillation,
membrane distillation, extractive distillation, and adsorption
distillation?

1. Membrane distillation
Advantage Limitation
MD have lower energy consumption membrane wetting may occur due to
high affinity of hydrophobic membrane
material with such compounds
MD process can effectively operate at MD is proposed as very challenging
low temperatures, which technology for concentration of fruit
 makes it possible to utilize low- juice allowing to overcome the
grade waste drawbacks of conventional thermal
 alternative energy sources, such evaporation encountered by application
as solar and geothermal energy. of high temperatures
desalination and production of high Some processes did not induce any
purity water from brackish water and significant changes in phenolic
seawater compounds, organic acids and sugars
independently on the final
concentration achieved.
MD in desalination have the ability to Not well executing in utilization of waste
achieve high rejection factors which energy and other renewable energy
cannot be accomplished by RO at high sources in the view of industrial
permeate fluxes implementation.
MD is used in purification of waste
waters of pharmaceutical, textile
industries, underground waters
contaminated with heavy metals and
sulfuric acid solutions
The MD process can be successfully
applied to remove ethanol and the
other volatile metabolites from the
fermentation broth
MD takes place at a temperature below
the normal boiling point of broth
solutions.

2. Azeotropic distillation
Advantages
An azeotrope occurs when the composition of a vapour in equilibrium with
a liquid mixture has the same composition as the liquid. Azeotropic
distillation takes advantage of azeotropes that form naturally between
many components. Azeotropic distillation involves the formation of an
azeotrope, or the use of an existing azeotrope, to effect a desired
separation. The main advantages of Azeotropic distillation are in allowing
the separation of chemicals that cannot feasibly be separated by
conventional distillation, such as systems containing azeotropes or pinch
points, and improving the economics of the separation by saving energy
and increasing recovery. Azeotropic distillation will undoubtedly a viable
alternative for simplifying difficult separations found in industry.

Limitation
The main disadvantages of Azeotropic distillation are the larger diameter
column required to allow for increased vapour volume due to the
Azeotropic agent, and an increase in control complications compared with
simple distillation.

3. Extractive distillation

Advantage

In extractive distillation with liquid solvent the separating agent for

extractive distillation is relatively non-volatile solvent, sometimes mixture
of solvents. Since solid salt isn't volatile, it can't be entrained into the
product. So no salt vapor is inhaled by operators. From this viewpoint, it
is environment-friendly. Salt recovery is relatively: simple evaporation can
be sufficient. Extractive distillation with liquid solvent there is no problems
of dissolution, reuse and transport for the liquid solvent because it is in
the liquid phase under the operation condition of extractive distillation
process.

Limitation

In extractive distillation with liquid solvents to feed ration is high.

However, it is a pity that when solid salt is used in industrial operation,
dissolution, reuse and transport of salt is quite a problem. The concurrent
jam and erosion limit the industrial value of extractive distillation with
solid salt. That is why this technique, extractive distillation with solid salt,
isn't widely used in industry.
 4. Adsorption distillation
Advantage Limitation
This process also does not use any There may be a need of frequent
other chemical, hence eliminating the regeneration.
chance of contaminating substances
to be separated with any other
substance completely. The cost of the
usage of such chemicals is also thus
automatically eliminated altogether.
This also translates into separation Adsorbents pore and active site
recovery from the process, thus competition and occupation could
leading to greater revenue for the be the limits
industry.
Especially in ethanol, This stems from Selection of adsorbent is a big
its solvent properties, and hence the issue. The correct type should be
purity of ethanol is critical, for which chosen.
it is often dried.
There are many adsorptive Suspension adsorption distillation
substances to be used has a jamming problem.
 Zeolites (aluminosilicate)
 Active carbon
 Silicon dioxide
 Halloysite (endellite)
Adsorbents like molecular sieves
could be regenerated as:
 pressure change
 heating and purging with a
carrier gas (as when used in
ethanol dehydration)
 heating under high vacuum.
Regeneration temperatures
range from 175 °C to 315 °C
depending on molecular sieve
type.