12 - Mathematical modeling of membrane operations for water treatment

Abstract

Membrane has been widely accepted and proven to be a reliable technology in producing drinking water because it offers several advantages compared to conventional water treatment processes. Mathematical modeling is very important in membrane operations for water treatment because it could provide useful data in designing the plant and helpful prediction on the performance of the membrane water treatment plant. Different types of membranes (microfiltration (MF)/ultrafiltration (UF)/nanofiltration (NF)/reverse osmosis (RO)) will have different transport mechanisms, and thus the models used to predict their performance will be different. With appropriate and reliable modeling, problems with membrane operation can be identified earlier, and thus preventive methods can be taken to mitigate them. Hence, the selection of a model for the membrane water treatment plant is very crucial, because it will lead to better understanding of its long-term performance.