Modelling of Multi-Step Microfiltration Process for Solvent Exchange

Abstract

Industrial-scale microfiltration (MF) separation is applied to process a dispersed ternary system containing an organic solvent, water and fine particles. The objective of the separation is to exchange the organic solvent with water and concentrate the water-particle dispersion. The MF separation is carried out in a multi-step batch operation including pre-concentration, dilution mode, and post-concentration process steps. In this study, we present a practical computational algorithm which can be used as a basis for process simulations of both concentration and dilution modes. The numerical method is based on mass balance processing and on empirical relations of the rejection and the permeate flux to the feed composition. These empirical relations are obtained from the experimental data of a single test-run with the process liquid. We discuss the input data of the code and the respective experimental design with the necessary sampling. Finally, we provide optimum-search techniques considering economical aspects and technological demands.