Dilute single and mixed solute systems in a spiral wound reverse osmosis module: Part II. Experimental data and application of the model

Abstract

In Part I of this paper a system design model for a spiral wound reverse osmosis module was developed. The model allows for the choice of membrane mass transport model and describes material balances, pressure drop, and mixing in the feed channel. In the current paper this model is used to analyze data for single and mixed solute experiments with dilute aqueous alcohol solutions. A commercial FilmTec FT-30 brackish water spiral wound membrane module was used in all experiments. The unknown parameters in the model determined from single solute experimental data can be used to predict the performance for multiple solute experiments. The model predictions for both single and multiple solute separations are consistent with the experimental results over a wide range of pressures and feed flow rates. The mesh step model was shown to describe the mixing in the feed channel spacer well. A further result is the solute transport parameters from the Kimura Sourirajan Analysis were found to be correlated to the steric or polar Taft parameters for this membrane module.