CHE3165 Practical Problems Semester 1

Week 11: Membrane Separation

Question no 1.

A membrane process is being designed to recover solute A form a dilute solution where c1 =
2.0 x 10-2 kg mol A/m3 by dialysis through a membrane to a solution where c2 = 0.3 x 10-2.
The membrane thickness is 1.59 x 10-5 m, the distribution coefficient K’ = 0.75, DAB = 3.5 x
10-11 m2/s in the membrane, the mass transfer coefficient in the dilute solution is kc1 = 3.5x
10-5 m/s and kc2 = 2.1 x 10-5
a. Calculate the individual resistances, total resistance and total % resistance of the two films
b. Calculate the flux at steady state and the total area in m2 for a transfer of 0.01 kg mol
solute /h
c. Increasing the velocity of both liquid phases flowing past the surface of the membrane will
increase the mass transfer coefficients, which are approximately proportional to v0.6, where v
is the velocity. If the velocities are doubled, calculate the total % resistance of two films and
the % increase in flux

Ans
a: Total resistance = 6.823 x 10 5 s/m, 11.17% resistance
b: NA = 2.492 x 10-8 kg mol A/s.m2, area = 111.5 m2
c: % resistance of two films = 7.66%, % increase in flux = 3.93%

Question no 2.

A polymeric membrane 29 x 10-3 m is used for an artificial organ device. The concentration
of solute in aqueous solution 1 x 10-4 g mol /cm3 whereas the concentration in permeate side
is 5 x 10-7 g mol /cm3. The mass transfer coefficient of both sides is assumed to be equal as
5.24 x 10-5 m/s. The flux is determined as 8.11 x 10-4 g mol solute/s m2

a. Calculate the permeance and permeability

b. Calculate the % resistance to diffusion in the liquid films
Ans
a: Permeance = = 1.183 x 10-5 m/s
b Permeability = DAB K’ = = 3.43 x 10-8 m2/s
c: % resistance to diffusion in the liquid film = 31%
CHE3165 Practical Problems Semester 1

Question no 3.

Calculate the flux and the rate of removal of urea at a steady state in g/h from a blood
(concentration 0.02 g urea /100 mL blood) in a dialyzer with cellophane membrane (thickness
0.025 mm and area of 2.0 m2). The mass transfer coefficient on the blood side is 1.25 x 10-5
m/s which is 2.664 times slower than the aqueous side. The permeability of the membrane is
8.73 x 10-6 m/s. Assume that the concentration of urea in dialysing fluid is 0.

Ans: Flux = 8.91 x 10-4 g /s m2, Rate of removal = 6.42 g urea /h