Reduction of concentration polarization at feeding interphase of a hollow fiber supported liquid membrane by using periodic operation

Abstract

An experimental investigation was carried out to reduce the concentration polarization at feeding interphase between feed solution and liquid membrane imposing flow instabilities. The periodic operation of the hollow fiber supported liquid membrane for separation of lanthanide metal by using D2EHPA as extractant dissolved in kerosene. The operating flow rate of the feed solution was varied according to a symmetric square wave function around time-average values of 200, 300 and 400 ml/min. Time periods ranging from 18 to 3 minutes and amplitudes of 50 and 100 ml/min were investigated. The results of these periodic tests were compared with results obtained from the conventional steadystate mode of operation. It has been found that the periodic operation leads to higher stripping concentration or higher ion flux than that obtained from the corresponding steady state operating conditions. This is because periodic operation disturbs concentration polarization in the boundary layer between the feed solution and liquid membrane. It has also been found that the ion flux increases with increasing amplitudes and decreasing time periods of the forcing function. However, when the period is less than 3 minutes the flux decreases because the liquid membrane is peeled out from the pores of hollow fiber.