Chemical Engineering Laboratory (CEL) Title : Membrane Filtration Objectives : To reduce the alkalinity of alkaline water using membrane

filtration Scope :

Conduct membrane filtration on alkaline water prepared artificially from Sodium Carbonate solution To determine the effects of pressure drop on pH of permeate To determine the effects of pressure drop on conductivity of retentate To determine the effects of pressure drop on the flowrate of permeate

Apparatus & Materials : 0.0025M Sodium Carbonate solution, deionised water, 0.01M Sulphuric Acid solution, stopwatch, 10mL measuring cylinder, apparatus for membrane experiment, beaker, burette, volumetric flask, phenolphthalein. Method : measurement of sample alkalinity after membrane filtration by phenolphthalein titration at different pressure drop. Methodology : A) Membrane Experiment for Sodium Carbonate Solution 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) Prepare a Standard Sodium Carbonate Solution (concentration : 2.649g/L) by adding 26.49g of Sodium Carbonate salt into 10 L of water. The Feed Tank is fill up with 10L Standard Sodium Carbonate solution. Start Plunger Pump(P1) and Centrifugal Pump(P2) after ensuring that valves (V3), (V5) and (V7) are fully-opened. Set the operating pressure of Plunger Pump(P1) to 10bar by adjusting the needle valve(V7). Let the solution flow for about 1 minute until the flow rate is stable. Open the sampling valve(V9) and drain off some solution. Start the stopwatch immediately after closing the sampling valve(V9). After about 5 seconds, open the sampling valve(V9) again, and use a 10mL measuring cylinder to collect the permeate. Close sampling valve(V9) when the stopwatch indicates 1 min. Record the volume of permeate collected in the 10mL measuring cylinder. Repeat the steps of collecting the permeate by opening the sampling valve(V9) and measuring the permeate volume collected for every one minute interval for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, stop the Plunger Pump(P1) and close valve(V3).

12) 13) 14) 15) 16)

Open valve(V2) to mix back the permeate and retentate back into the Feed Tank and then stir the mixture. Set the Plunger Pump(P1) operating pressure to 30bar by adjusting the needle valve(V7). Let the mixture flow for about 1 minute until the flow rate is stable. Repeat steps 2 to 9 but set the operating pressure of Plunger Pump(P1) as 20bar. Switch off Plunger Pump(P1) and Centrifugal Pump(P2). Analyze the samples collected with pH meter to obtain the pH.

Cleaning the equipment : 1) 2) 3) After switching off Plunger Pump(P1) and Centrifugal Pump(P2), drain all process liquid from the filtration process lines, Product Tank and Feed Tank. Rinse and fill the Feed Tank with deionised water. Make sure that all valves are set as follows ; 5) Close V1, V2, V4, V6, V8, V9, V10, V12 6) Leave Alone V11, V13

4) Open V3, V5, V7

7) 8) 9)

Switch on Plunger Pump(P1). Fully open the needle valve(V7) and let the solution flow for about 10 minutes. Stop the pump and switch off the power.

Feed : Standard

Sodium Carbonate Solution Time, t (min)

Volume of Permeate,V (mL)

Flux (L/m2h)

Volume of Permeate,V (mL)

Flux (L/m2h)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Time, t (min) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Conductivity of Retentate, S/m

Conductivity of Retentate, S/m

Time, t (min)

pH

Concentration of

pH

Concentration of OH-,

OH-, [OH-] (mol/dm3) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

[OH-] (mol/dm3)

Equations:
pOH = 14 pH

pOH = - log [OH-] , where [OH-] = concentration of Hydroxide ion