BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF SEPARATION TECHNOLOGY
Types of membrane modules
Membrane modules are broadly classified into membranes encased in housing (housed type) and those that do not encase membranes in a housing (unhoused type).
Membrane modules encased in housing include those that use pleated membranes (flat sheets), spiral wound membranes (flat sheets), tubular membranes, monolith ceramic membranes, and hollow fiber membranes arranged in a cylindrical form.
Membranes that can be used for modules encased in housing include microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and reverse osmosis membranes. Filtration is generally achieved by applying pressure to the feed supplied to the membrane module using a pump, etc.
Membrane modules that are not encased in a housing are typically used by immersing the membrane module in a tank. Filtration is achieved by lowering the pressure of the treated water side of the membrane or using water head difference.
Membrane modules that are not encased in a housing include sheet and rotating disk systems, which use flat sheet membranes, tubular system, which uses tubular membranes, and sheet and cylindrical systems which use hollow fiber membranes.
Membranes that can be used for modules not encased in housing are typically microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes.
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Information on other separation technologies
The characteristics of separation technologies used for solid-liquid separation, including membrane filtration, are summarized.
Classification of membrane filtration and target components are explained.
Membrane filtration, one of the separation technologies, will be briefly explained.
Separation methods that use pressure difference are outlined.
See here for the differences between dead-end filtration and cross-flow filtration.
Brief examples of membrane separation technology applications for each membrane type.