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The Amazing World of Membrane Technology: Do you know how membranes separate substances?
Membrane technology is an advanced science and technology that aims to design and apply thin films to separate substances. These membranes are able to efficiently transport or reject a wide range of substances between different media and achieve mechanical separation of gas and liquid streams. The pores of the membrane can limit the passage of unwanted substances, such as harmful microorganisms, thus achieving a filtering effect.
Membrane technology is now widely used in many industries, such as water treatment, chemical and metal processing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food industry, and removal of environmental pollutants.
Overview of membrane
The membrane separation process relies on a semipermeable membrane to transport substances between two phases of different properties. Compared to conventional thermal separation processes such as distillation or crystallization, membrane technology does not require heating during the separation process and therefore uses less energy. In addition, the separation processes of membrane technology are mostly physical processes, which can obtain useful products.
Mass transfer model
Mass transfer across membranes is primarily accomplished using two basic models: solution diffusion model and fluid dynamics model. In actual membranes, these two transport mechanisms often occur simultaneously.
Membrane operation and driving force
Based on the driving force of the operation, membrane operations can be divided into several different types, including pressure-driven operations (such as ultrafiltration, microfiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis), concentration-driven operations (such as dialysis and membrane distillation), and Operations under potential gradients (e.g. electrodialysis and membrane electrolysis). These different types of membrane technologies each play an important role in different application areas.
Membrane performance and efficiency
High selectivity and high stability are the main conditions for selecting a suitable membrane. The performance of the membrane depends not only on its material but also on the preparation process. Some membrane technologies are relatively widely used for concentrating liquids, especially in the food and medical industries.
Synthesis of biomass membranes
With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, biomass membrane has become a promising solution. These membranes are usually made from plant fibers and go through a special process to improve filtration performance. The manufacturing process of biomass membranes includes making the biomaterial into a slurry, then forming it on a substrate, and going through multiple steps such as drying and processing.
The synthesis of such "green membranes" or "biofilms" offers a more competitive approach to environmental protection, as they are not only effective but also derived from renewable materials.
Application prospects of membranes
Membrane technology plays an increasingly important role in water treatment, especially in addressing the increasingly serious problem of water pollution. With the advancement of science and technology, the future of membrane technology will continue to expand in many fields such as energy recovery, environmental protection and food safety.
Do you also want to know how membrane technology can play a greater role in improving our quality of life?
