Flux and Rejection of Salt Using Membrane

The concept ofseparating liquid mixtures (salt solution) using membrane technology has
gained tremendous applications in the industry. This is due to the number ofadvantages
possessed by the membrane, such as ease of operations, low energy consumption, easy
for expansion, small floor area, cost effectiveness and good weight and space efficiency.
The reverse osmosis membranes are specified in terms of their "percentage rejection of
salts". The membranes that are supplied are classified as tubular type, which is widely
used and have turbulent flow conditions. Liquid permeates through the membrane and
feed emerges in a more concentrated form onexit from module.
The objectives ofthis research are to investigate the performance ofmembrane in order
to determine the flux and rejection salt, also to determine the importance parameters such
as concentration at different pressure, permeability of water and percentage of salt
remove by using different type of chemicals. The experimental equipment consisted of
four RO membranes with same material and in-line system sensor, which allows data
acquisition system on a continuous base on pressure, flow rates and also weight of
permeates. In the process, retentate is recycled tothe feed tank and permeate is collected
separately.
From the data obtained and graph plotted, it shows that flux and rejection increased as
increasing the pressure but decreased with the concentration. More concentrated the
solution will reduce the number of flux and rejection in theROmembrane. Different type
of chemicals wasused in order to compare the flux and rejection based on the molecular
weight and ionic size. Higher in molecular weight and ionic size shows lower the flux
and rejection.
Parameters are analysed so that optimum-operating conditions are suggested. In this
approach, the activity of the membrane selected is noted and compared with the
literature/theoretical results.