Basic equations of mass transfer through biocatalytic membrane layer

Abstract

AbstractThe diffusive and convective mass transport through biocatalytic membrane layer (membrane bioreactor), without and with biochemical reactions, have been investigated. Similarly to the two‐film theory for gas‐liquid system with diffusive mass transport, only, mass transfer rates have been developed for the biocatalytic membrane layer and for the concentration boundary layer on the feed side of the membrane. Overall mass transfer coefficient has also been defined involving the two‐layer, simultaneous mass transfer, namely the mass transfer through the concentration boundary layer and biocatalytic membrane layer. The effect of the convective velocity (Pe number) and the biochemical reaction rate, namely first‐order and zero‐order reactions as limiting cases of the Monod kinetics, are demonstrated on the mass transfer coefficients accompanied by chemical reaction and on the concentration profiles. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.