Peter Kreis

Process design of integrated reaction and membrane separation by organic solvent nanofiltration using evolutionary algorithms

Abstract This paper shows a model-based design method of an integrated reaction and membrane separation process applied to the ligand-assisted hydroformylation of cyclooctene to cyclooctanecarbaldehyde. In order to demonstrate the economic potential of the applied organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membrane technology, the focus is set on cost optimisation varying simultaneously process configuration and process conditions. The process model is fed with kinetic data of cyclooctene hydroformylation reaction kinetics (TU Eindhoven) and experimental data of OSN membrane permeation (Evonik Industries AG). The resulting Mixed-Integer Non-Linear Programming (MINLP) problem is solved using an evolutionary algorithm. For the optimal processes, cost structures are presented and discussed.

Development of a generic process model for membrane adsorption

Abstract In this work, a generic model describing the dynamic adsorption behaviour of proteins on membrane adsorbers over complete purification cycles under consideration of module geometry and of the interaction between multiple transport mechanisms is developed. A general rate model for membrane adsorption, in which the interaction between multiple phenomena, like mass transfer and adsorption kinetics are considered, is formulated. Hereby, the implemented isotherms describe the influence of eluting agents on the adsorption behaviour, so that complete purification cycle (loading, washing and elution operation) can be simulated. Using the developed model the theoretical influence of relevant transport phenomena, operating conditions and process scale on affinity and ion exchange membrane adsorption of proteins are investigated. An example on ion exchange membrane adsorption illustrates the possibility to predict scale up effects occurring in configurations of multiple membrane adsorber modules. The obtained simulation results are in accordance with experimental observations reported in literature.