Mechanistic Modeling of Organic Compounds Separation from Water via Polymeric Membranes

Abstract

<em>A mathematical model considering mass and momentum transfer was developed </em><em>for simulation of ethanol dewatering via pervaporation process. The process involves removal of water</em><em> from a water/ethanol liquid mixture using a dense polymeric membrane. The model domain </em>was divided into two compartments including feed and membrane. For a description of water transport in<em> the feed solution, Maxwell-Stefan approach was used, while for mass transfer inside the membrane</em><em> the molecular diffusion mechanism was assumed. The governing equations were solved numerically using finite element method. The concentration profile inside the membrane showed a linear decrease and a parabolic fully developed velocity profile was obtained on the feed side. The results also confirmed that formation of concentration layer can be easily predicted using Maxwell-Stefan approach in dewatering of organic compounds using pervaporation process.</em>