A variety of methods exist to remove volatile organic compound (VOC) air pollutants from contaminated gas streams. As regulatory and public opinion pressures increase, companies are searching for more effective methods to control these emissions. This document is intended as a guide to help determine if existing systems are adequate and to provide additional information to improve the efficiency of the systems. It explores conventional methods of controlling VOC emissions, as well as innovative technologies including membrane separation, plasma destruction, and ozone catalytic oxidation. The conventional technologies covered include condensation, adsorption, absorption (or scrubbing), thermal incineration, flaring, catalytic incineration, and biofiltration. Each chapter includes a description of the technology, a discussion of the types of systems available, notes on the design of the system, economic estimates, an explanation of potential problems, and a list of considerations for installation and maintenance concerns. The final chapter is dedicated to the preparation and characterization of metal catalysts which were developed to improve the reaction rate of VOCs using ozone as an oxidant. / Ph. D.

Micro-organismos fotossintetizantes, incluído aqui o gênero Arthrospira, vêm sendo amplamente produzidos em larga escala em vários países, detendo um mercado que gera mais de 1 bilhão de dólares ao ano. A produção industrial utiliza grande volume de água com alta concentração salina para produzir milhares de toneladas de biomassa microalgal. É crescente a utilização de tratamento de águas por processo de separação por membranas, demonstrando ser uma técnica que gera água de ótima qualidade, de instalação compacta e de fácil automação. No presente trabalho, foi avaliada esta tecnologia para o reaproveitamento do meio de cultura em novos cultivos de micro-organismos fotossintetizantes, visando contribuir para a sustentabilidade deste processo produtivo. O efluente do cultivo de Arthrospira platensis oriundo de processo descontínuo em minitanques foi submetido a tratamento por membranas de filtração tangencial, incluindo microfiltração (MF) (porosidades de 0,65 µm e de 0,22 µm) e ultrafiltração (UF) (peso molecular de corte de 5.000 Da), em pressões transmembrana (TMP) de 22,5 a 90 kPa. Os processos de MF levaram a reduções médias de 53,9±1,3 % e 93,1±1,1 % de matéria orgânica natural (NOM) e pigmentos nos meios residuais, respectivamente. Com o uso de processos de UF, cujos meios foram previamente tratados por MF (0,22 µm e 22,5 kPa), as reduções médias de NOM e pigmentos foram de 57,2±0,5 % e 94,0±0,8 %, respectivamente. Os processos de MF com TMP de 22,5 kPa levaram a concentrações celulares máximas (Xm) equivalentes às obtidas com meio novo. O uso de membrana de 0,65 µm e TMP de 22,5 kPa levou a uma perda média de 2,9 %, 22,7 % e 16,4% dos nutrientes carbonato, fosfato e nitrato, respectivamente, mas a correção desses valores aos mesmos do meio padrão levou à obtenção dos mais altos valores de Xm (3586,6±80 mg L-1), produtividade em células (505,0±11,6 mg L-1 d-1) e fator de conversão de nitrogênio em células (29,6±0,7 mg mg-1). O teor protéico da biomassa foi estatisticamente igual ao da biomassa obtida de cultivo com meio padrão novo. Os dados deste trabalho evidenciam que processos de filtração por membrana são promissores para o reuso de meio de micro-organismos fotossintetizantes. / Photosynthetic microorganisms, including here the genus Arthrospira, have been produced worldwide in large scale, in a market which generates more than $ 1 billion a year. The industrial production uses huge volume of water with high salinity to produce thousands of tons of microalgal biomass. It is increasing the use of membrane separation process in water treatment, proving to be a technique that generates high quality water, compact and easy both installation and automation. In this study, it was evaluated this technology for the recycling of the culture medium to produce photosynthetic microorganisms, aiming to contribute to the sustainability of this production process. The effluent from Arthrospira platensis culture originating from batch process in laboratory-scale open raceway tanks was treated by tangential flow filtration with microfiltration (MF) (membrane pore size of 0.65 µm and 0.22 µm) and ultrafiltration (UF) (molecular weight cut-off of 5,000 Da), using transmembrane pressure (TMP) from 22.5 up to 90 kPa. MF processes led to average reductions of 53,9±1.3% and 93.1±1.1% of natural organic matter (NOM) and pigments in the exhausted media, respectively. With the use of UF process, whose media were pre-treated by MF (0.22 µm and 22.5 kPa), the average NOM and pigments reductions were 57.2±0.5% and 94.0±0.8%, respectively. The MF process with TMP of 22.5 kPa led to maximum cell concentrations (Xm) equivalent to those obtained with the new medium. The use of membrane of 0.65 µm under TMP of 22.5 kPa led to an average loss of 2.9%, 22.7% and 16.4% of the nutrients carbonate, phosphate and nitrate, respectively, but correcting the concentration of these nutrients to those values present in the standard medium led to obtain the highest Xm (3586.6±80 mg L-1), cell productivity (505.0±11.6 mg L-1 d-1) and nitrogen-to-cell conversion yield (29.6±0.7 cells mg mg-1). The protein content of this biomass was statistically equal to that one obtained from cultivation with standard new medium. Data from this study show that membrane filtration processes are promising for reuse media in cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms.

Os processos de separação por membrana (PSM) vêm ganhando destaque em aplicações industriais por conta de suas vantagens, principalmente o baixo custo de implementação e o baixo consumo de energia para sua operação. A utilização de subprodutos agrícolas na obtenção de materiais é uma tendência crescente, sendo os seus maiores atrativos a grande disponibilidade desses subprodutos e por serem uma matéria-prima barata. O presente trabalho teve como principais objetivos a produção de membranas sua utilização na detoxificação do hidrolisado hemicelulósico originado do tratamento ácido do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar. Para tanto foram produzidos dois tipos de membranas a partir de três polímeros diferentes, o acetato de celulose obtido a partir do bagaço de cana, o acetato de celulose comercial e a poliamida 66. Na produção de acetato a partir do bagaço foi realizado um estudo exploratório para extrair a celulose, matéria-prima do acetato, de uma maneira que se obtivesse um material com alto grau de pureza e que as perdas de celulose durante o processo fossem minimizadas. Para a produção das membranas foi utilizada a técnica de inversão de fases. No caso das membranas de acetato de celulose, foi realizada uma variação dos parâmetros utilizados no processo de confecção das membranas (tempo de evaporação do solvente, temperatura do banho de coagulação e tratamento térmico), com o intuito de se estabelecer as melhores variáveis do processo, enquanto que para a poliamida 66, foram utilizadas condições previamente determinadas por outros estudos. Depois de prontas, as membranas foram caracterizadas fisicamente e pelas suas propriedades de fluxo de água pura, fluxo de vapor de água, rejeição de sais, rejeição de açúcares e rejeição de compostos tóxicos. Finalmente, as membranas foram aplicadas no processo de detoxificação do hidrolisado hemicelulósico para testar sua capacidade de remoção de furfural, hidroximetilfurfural (HMF), ácido acético e compostos fenólicos. No estudo de extração da celulose do bagaço, as melhores condições produziram uma celulose com pureza de 84,01%. O acetato produzido apresentou um grau de substituição de 2,52, podendo ser classificado como um triacetato de celulose. Em comparação, o acetato comercial apresentou um grau de substituição de 2,85. Fisicamente, todas as membranas apresentaram uma morfologia que intercalava a presença de poros com regiões nodulares. As membranas de bagaço de cana apresentaram uma considerável fragilidade, por isso nos testes de permeação sob pressão, elas foram suportadas por uma membrana de polissulfona comercial. Todas as membranas de acetato de bagaço e membrana de poliamida apresentaram fluxo de água pura, enquanto que apenas algumas membranas de acetato comercial conseguiram permear água pura. As membranas apresentaram diferentes resultados nos experimentos de rejeição de compostos, resultado das diferenças estruturais entre elas. No ensaio de detoxificação, a membrana que alcançou o melhor desempenho foi a membrana obtida a partir do acetato comercial. Essa membrana conseguiu remover 89,92% de HMF, 91,99% de furfural, 51,52% de ácido acético e 8,35% de compostos fenólicos. As membranas produzidas a partir do bagaço de cana alcançaram uma remoção de 71,66 de HMF, 60,87% de furfural, 91,79% de ácido acético e 10,86% de fenólicos. / Membrane separation processes (MSP) have been highlighted at industrial processes because of their advantages, mainly the low cost of implementation and the low energy consumption during their operation. The utilization of agriculture co-products for the obtainment of material is a increasing trend, wherein the main attractive are the high availability and the low cost of these co-products. The aims of this work were to produce membranes and to investigate their utilization in the detoxification of the hemicellulosic hydrolisate originated from the acid treatment of sugarcane bagasse. For that, two types of membranes were produced from three different types of polymers, cellulose acetate obtained from sugarcane bagasse, commercial cellulose acetate and polyamide 66. For the production of the sugarcane bagasse cellulose acetate it was conducted an exploratory study in order to extract cellulose, raw-material of the acetate, in a manner that the final material possessed high purity degree and the losses of cellulose during the process were minimized. The technique of phase inversion was utilized to produce the membranes. In the case of cellulose acetate membranes, the variation of the membrane production parameters (time of solvent evaporation, temperature of coagulation bath and thermical treatment) was performed for the purpose of establishing the best process parameters, whereas it was utilized previously established conditions found in the literature for the polyamide membrane production. The membranes were characterized physically and for their properties of pure water flux, vapor water flux, salt rejection, sugar rejection and toxic compound rejection. Finally, the membranes were applied in the process of hemicellulosic hydrolysate detoxification for testing their capacity of furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), acetic acid and phenolic compound removal. The best conditions of cellulose extraction from sugarcane bagasse were able to produce cellulose with 84.01% of purity. The sugarcane cellulose acetate presented a substitution degree of 2.52, being classified as cellulose triacetate. In comparison, commercial cellulose acetate presented a substitution degree of 2,85. Physically, all membranes possessed a morphology that interspersed the presence of porous and nodular regions. Due to their fragility, sugarcane bagasse membranes were supported by a polysulfone commercial membrane in the tests of permeation under pressure. All sugarcane bagasse membranes and polyamide membrane achieved pure water flux. Nevertheless, just some commercial cellulose acetate membranes could permeate pure water. In the assays of compound rejection, the membranes reached different results, on behalf of their structural differences. The membrane that obtained the best performance in the detoxification process was the membrane produced form commercial cellulose acetate. This membrane was able to remove 89.92% of HMF, 91.99% of furfural, 51.52% of acetic acid and 8.35% of phenolic compounds. The membranes produced from sugarcane bagasse reached a removal of 71.66 of HMF, 60.87% of furfural, 91.79% of acetic acid and 10,86% of phenolics.

Os processos de separação por membrana (PSM) vêm ganhando destaque em aplicações industriais por conta de suas vantagens, principalmente o baixo custo de implementação e o baixo consumo de energia para sua operação. A utilização de subprodutos agrícolas na obtenção de materiais é uma tendência crescente, sendo os seus maiores atrativos a grande disponibilidade desses subprodutos e por serem uma matéria-prima barata. O presente trabalho teve como principais objetivos a produção de membranas sua utilização na detoxificação do hidrolisado hemicelulósico originado do tratamento ácido do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar. Para tanto foram produzidos dois tipos de membranas a partir de três polímeros diferentes, o acetato de celulose obtido a partir do bagaço de cana, o acetato de celulose comercial e a poliamida 66. Na produção de acetato a partir do bagaço foi realizado um estudo exploratório para extrair a celulose, matéria-prima do acetato, de uma maneira que se obtivesse um material com alto grau de pureza e que as perdas de celulose durante o processo fossem minimizadas. Para a produção das membranas foi utilizada a técnica de inversão de fases. No caso das membranas de acetato de celulose, foi realizada uma variação dos parâmetros utilizados no processo de confecção das membranas (tempo de evaporação do solvente, temperatura do banho de coagulação e tratamento térmico), com o intuito de se estabelecer as melhores variáveis do processo, enquanto que para a poliamida 66, foram utilizadas condições previamente determinadas por outros estudos. Depois de prontas, as membranas foram caracterizadas fisicamente e pelas suas propriedades de fluxo de água pura, fluxo de vapor de água, rejeição de sais, rejeição de açúcares e rejeição de compostos tóxicos. Finalmente, as membranas foram aplicadas no processo de detoxificação do hidrolisado hemicelulósico para testar sua capacidade de remoção de furfural, hidroximetilfurfural (HMF), ácido acético e compostos fenólicos. No estudo de extração da celulose do bagaço, as melhores condições produziram uma celulose com pureza de 84,01%. O acetato produzido apresentou um grau de substituição de 2,52, podendo ser classificado como um triacetato de celulose. Em comparação, o acetato comercial apresentou um grau de substituição de 2,85. Fisicamente, todas as membranas apresentaram uma morfologia que intercalava a presença de poros com regiões nodulares. As membranas de bagaço de cana apresentaram uma considerável fragilidade, por isso nos testes de permeação sob pressão, elas foram suportadas por uma membrana de polissulfona comercial. Todas as membranas de acetato de bagaço e membrana de poliamida apresentaram fluxo de água pura, enquanto que apenas algumas membranas de acetato comercial conseguiram permear água pura. As membranas apresentaram diferentes resultados nos experimentos de rejeição de compostos, resultado das diferenças estruturais entre elas. No ensaio de detoxificação, a membrana que alcançou o melhor desempenho foi a membrana obtida a partir do acetato comercial. Essa membrana conseguiu remover 89,92% de HMF, 91,99% de furfural, 51,52% de ácido acético e 8,35% de compostos fenólicos. As membranas produzidas a partir do bagaço de cana alcançaram uma remoção de 71,66 de HMF, 60,87% de furfural, 91,79% de ácido acético e 10,86% de fenólicos. / Membrane separation processes (MSP) have been highlighted at industrial processes because of their advantages, mainly the low cost of implementation and the low energy consumption during their operation. The utilization of agriculture co-products for the obtainment of material is a increasing trend, wherein the main attractive are the high availability and the low cost of these co-products. The aims of this work were to produce membranes and to investigate their utilization in the detoxification of the hemicellulosic hydrolisate originated from the acid treatment of sugarcane bagasse. For that, two types of membranes were produced from three different types of polymers, cellulose acetate obtained from sugarcane bagasse, commercial cellulose acetate and polyamide 66. For the production of the sugarcane bagasse cellulose acetate it was conducted an exploratory study in order to extract cellulose, raw-material of the acetate, in a manner that the final material possessed high purity degree and the losses of cellulose during the process were minimized. The technique of phase inversion was utilized to produce the membranes. In the case of cellulose acetate membranes, the variation of the membrane production parameters (time of solvent evaporation, temperature of coagulation bath and thermical treatment) was performed for the purpose of establishing the best process parameters, whereas it was utilized previously established conditions found in the literature for the polyamide membrane production. The membranes were characterized physically and for their properties of pure water flux, vapor water flux, salt rejection, sugar rejection and toxic compound rejection. Finally, the membranes were applied in the process of hemicellulosic hydrolysate detoxification for testing their capacity of furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), acetic acid and phenolic compound removal. The best conditions of cellulose extraction from sugarcane bagasse were able to produce cellulose with 84.01% of purity. The sugarcane cellulose acetate presented a substitution degree of 2.52, being classified as cellulose triacetate. In comparison, commercial cellulose acetate presented a substitution degree of 2,85. Physically, all membranes possessed a morphology that interspersed the presence of porous and nodular regions. Due to their fragility, sugarcane bagasse membranes were supported by a polysulfone commercial membrane in the tests of permeation under pressure. All sugarcane bagasse membranes and polyamide membrane achieved pure water flux. Nevertheless, just some commercial cellulose acetate membranes could permeate pure water. In the assays of compound rejection, the membranes reached different results, on behalf of their structural differences. The membrane that obtained the best performance in the detoxification process was the membrane produced form commercial cellulose acetate. This membrane was able to remove 89.92% of HMF, 91.99% of furfural, 51.52% of acetic acid and 8.35% of phenolic compounds. The membranes produced from sugarcane bagasse reached a removal of 71.66 of HMF, 60.87% of furfural, 91.79% of acetic acid and 10,86% of phenolics.

Micro-organismos fotossintetizantes, incluído aqui o gênero Arthrospira, vêm sendo amplamente produzidos em larga escala em vários países, detendo um mercado que gera mais de 1 bilhão de dólares ao ano. A produção industrial utiliza grande volume de água com alta concentração salina para produzir milhares de toneladas de biomassa microalgal. É crescente a utilização de tratamento de águas por processo de separação por membranas, demonstrando ser uma técnica que gera água de ótima qualidade, de instalação compacta e de fácil automação. No presente trabalho, foi avaliada esta tecnologia para o reaproveitamento do meio de cultura em novos cultivos de micro-organismos fotossintetizantes, visando contribuir para a sustentabilidade deste processo produtivo. O efluente do cultivo de Arthrospira platensis oriundo de processo descontínuo em minitanques foi submetido a tratamento por membranas de filtração tangencial, incluindo microfiltração (MF) (porosidades de 0,65 µm e de 0,22 µm) e ultrafiltração (UF) (peso molecular de corte de 5.000 Da), em pressões transmembrana (TMP) de 22,5 a 90 kPa. Os processos de MF levaram a reduções médias de 53,9±1,3 % e 93,1±1,1 % de matéria orgânica natural (NOM) e pigmentos nos meios residuais, respectivamente. Com o uso de processos de UF, cujos meios foram previamente tratados por MF (0,22 µm e 22,5 kPa), as reduções médias de NOM e pigmentos foram de 57,2±0,5 % e 94,0±0,8 %, respectivamente. Os processos de MF com TMP de 22,5 kPa levaram a concentrações celulares máximas (Xm) equivalentes às obtidas com meio novo. O uso de membrana de 0,65 µm e TMP de 22,5 kPa levou a uma perda média de 2,9 %, 22,7 % e 16,4% dos nutrientes carbonato, fosfato e nitrato, respectivamente, mas a correção desses valores aos mesmos do meio padrão levou à obtenção dos mais altos valores de Xm (3586,6±80 mg L-1), produtividade em células (505,0±11,6 mg L-1 d-1) e fator de conversão de nitrogênio em células (29,6±0,7 mg mg-1). O teor protéico da biomassa foi estatisticamente igual ao da biomassa obtida de cultivo com meio padrão novo. Os dados deste trabalho evidenciam que processos de filtração por membrana são promissores para o reuso de meio de micro-organismos fotossintetizantes. / Photosynthetic microorganisms, including here the genus Arthrospira, have been produced worldwide in large scale, in a market which generates more than $ 1 billion a year. The industrial production uses huge volume of water with high salinity to produce thousands of tons of microalgal biomass. It is increasing the use of membrane separation process in water treatment, proving to be a technique that generates high quality water, compact and easy both installation and automation. In this study, it was evaluated this technology for the recycling of the culture medium to produce photosynthetic microorganisms, aiming to contribute to the sustainability of this production process. The effluent from Arthrospira platensis culture originating from batch process in laboratory-scale open raceway tanks was treated by tangential flow filtration with microfiltration (MF) (membrane pore size of 0.65 µm and 0.22 µm) and ultrafiltration (UF) (molecular weight cut-off of 5,000 Da), using transmembrane pressure (TMP) from 22.5 up to 90 kPa. MF processes led to average reductions of 53,9±1.3% and 93.1±1.1% of natural organic matter (NOM) and pigments in the exhausted media, respectively. With the use of UF process, whose media were pre-treated by MF (0.22 µm and 22.5 kPa), the average NOM and pigments reductions were 57.2±0.5% and 94.0±0.8%, respectively. The MF process with TMP of 22.5 kPa led to maximum cell concentrations (Xm) equivalent to those obtained with the new medium. The use of membrane of 0.65 µm under TMP of 22.5 kPa led to an average loss of 2.9%, 22.7% and 16.4% of the nutrients carbonate, phosphate and nitrate, respectively, but correcting the concentration of these nutrients to those values present in the standard medium led to obtain the highest Xm (3586.6±80 mg L-1), cell productivity (505.0±11.6 mg L-1 d-1) and nitrogen-to-cell conversion yield (29.6±0.7 cells mg mg-1). The protein content of this biomass was statistically equal to that one obtained from cultivation with standard new medium. Data from this study show that membrane filtration processes are promising for reuse media in cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms.

Effect of ionic strength on the efficiency of heavy metal removal and recovery from aqueous solutions via continuous mode polymer enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) method was examined. Application of PEUF to divalent ions of cadmium, nickel and zinc after their prior linking with polyethylenimine (PEI) results in complete removal of metal ions from single component aqueous solutions at high pHs. Binding ability and hence the extent of metal retention in high ionic strength medium exhibits differences between solutions containing single and multicomponent metal mixtures. In single component metal solutions, extent of retention decreases but binding order of metals remains unaffected both in low and high ionic strength medium. But, in binary component metal mixtures, with increase in ionic strength the binding order of metals changes. Fractional separation of Cd, Ni and Zn ions from equimolar binary and ternary mixtures of these metals and effect of ionic strength on fractional separation efficiency were investigated. Depending on pH and salt concentration and metal pairs present in the solution fractional separation can be achieved.Dynamic and static light scattering experiments were performed in order to gain insight about the conformational changes in PEI structure due to the pH and ionic strength alternations in solution. It was found that, the increase in ionic strength reduces the size of the macromolecules. A chemical equilibrium model was developed in order to estimate the apparent binding constants of metal-PEI complexes. Based on the data obtained from continuous and batch mode PEUF experiments apparent binding constants were estimated and compared to reveal the performance differences between these operational modes.

Mixed matrix hollow fiber membranes maintain the ease of processing polymers while enhancing the separation performance of the pure polymer due to inclusion of molecular sieve filler particles. This work shows the development process of high loading mixed matrix hollow fiber membranes for butane isomer separation, from material selection and engineering of polymer-sieve interfacial adhesion to mixed matrix hollow fiber spinning. The matching of gas transport properties in polymer and zeolite is critical for forming successful mixed matrix membranes. The nC4 permeability in glassy commercial polymers such as Ultem® and Matrimid® is too low (< 0.1 Barrer) for commercial application. A group of fluorinated (6FDA) polyimides, with high nC4 permeability and nC4/iC4 selectivity, are selected as the polymer matrix. No glassy polymers can possibly match the high permeable MFI to make mixed matrix membranes with selectivity enhancement for C4s separation. Zeolite 5A, which has a nC4 permeability (~3 Barrer) and nC4/iC4 selectivity (essentially ∞), matches well with the 6FDA polymers. A 24% nC4/iC4 selectivity enhancement was achieved in mixed matrix membranes containing 6FDA-DAM and 25 wt% treated 5A particles. A more promising mixed matrix membrane contains 6FDA-DAM-DABA matrix and 5A, because of a better match of gas transport properties in polymer and zeolite. Dual layer hollow fibers, with cellulose acetate core layer and sheath layers of 6FDA polyimides, were successfully fabricated. Successive engineering of the 6FDA sheath layer and the dense skin is needed for the challenging C4s separation, which is extremely sensitive to the integrity of the dense skin layer. The delamination-free, macrovoid-free dual layer hollow fiber membranes provide the solution for the expensive 6FDA polyimides spinning. Mixed matrix hollow fiber membranes are spun base on the platform of 6FDA/Cellulose acetate dual layer hollow fibers. Preliminary results suggest that high loading mixed matrix hollow fiber membranes for C4s is feasible. Following research is needed on the fiber spinning with well treated zeolite 5A nanoparticles. The key aspect of this research is elucidating the three-step (sol-gel-precipitation) mechanism of sol-gel-Grignard treatment, based on which further controlling of Mg(OH)2 whisker morphologies is possible. A Mg(OH)2 nucleation process promoted by acid species is proposed to explain the heterogeneous Mg(OH)2 growing process. Different acid species were tried: 1) HCl solution, 2) AlClx species generated by dealumination process and 3) AlCl3 supported on zeolite surfaces. Acids introduced through HCl solution and dealumination are effective on commercial 5A particles to generate Mg(OH)2 whiskers in the sol-gel-Grignard treatment. Supported AlCl3 is effective on both commercial and synthesized 5A particles (150 nm-1 µm) during the sol-gel-Grignard treatment, in terms of promoting heterogeneous Mg(OH)2 whiskers formation. But the byproduct of Al(OH)3 layer separates the Mg(OH)2 whiskers from zeolite surface, and leads to undesirable morphologies for polymer-zeolite interfacial adhesion. The elucidation of sol-gel-Grignard mechanism and importance of zeolite surface acidity on Mg(OH)2 formation, builds a solid foundation for future development towards ''universal'' method of growing Mg(OH)2 whiskers on zeolite surfaces.

Ceramic membrane processes are a rapidly emerging technology for water treatment, yet virtually no information on the performance and fouling mechanisms is available to the industry. Ceramic microfiltration of model feed solutions and a synthetic river water was examined, and a systematic comparison with polymeric counterpart was performed. The results suggested that the models which have been applied to polymeric membranes agreed well with the ceramic membrane filtration data. The fouling was characterized by the initial pore blocking mechanism and transition to the cake filtration mechanism at a later phase. Cake resistance was dominant and readily removable by physical cleaning. The effects of solution chemistry including ionic strength, divalent ion concentration and pH on the flux behavior were comparatively evaluated for ceramic and polymeric ultrafiltration of synthetic water containing model natural organic matter. Experimental evaluations further included resistance-in-series model analysis, organic matter fouling visualization using quantum dots, batch adsorption test, and contact angle measurement, and provided a quantitative a quantitative comparison of fouling characteristics between ceramic and polymeric membranes. The results collectively suggested that the effects of solution chemistry on the fouling behavior with ceramic membranes were mostly similar with polymeric membranes in terms of trends, while the extents varied depending on water quality parameters. Less fouling tendency and better cleaning efficiency were observed with the ceramic membranes, which was a promising finding for ceramic membrane application to surface water treatment. The study further examined a coagulation-ceramic membrane process as a robust option for surface water treatment. The performance of the hybrid system was evaluated using selected surface waters by varying coagulation conditions and types of coagulants. Results suggested that ceramic membranes experienced relatively less fouling and had better cleaning efficiency than polymeric counterpart. The results of this study provide critical information to guide the industry practitioners, consultants, and regulatory agents considering early adoption of this new technology as well as fundamental knowledge upon which further in-depth studies can be built.

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit dem Einsatz eines Membranverfahrens zur Extraktabtrennung unter Hochdruckbedingungen. Die in einem zu koppelnden Prozess extrahierten Naturstoffsubstanzen sollen dabei ohne große Energieverluste, wie sie bei der herkömmlichen Methode der Druckentspannung entstehen, in nahezu isobarer und isothermer Fahrweise aus dem verdichteten Lösungsmittel gewonnen werden. Für den Einsatz oxid-keramischer, integral-asymmetrisch aufgebauter Einkanal-Rohrmembranen wurden vor allem grundlegende Daten zum Transportverhalten hinsichtlich der beiden eingesetzten Gase CO2 und dem Frigen Tetrafluorethan ermittelt. Dies geschah für zwei Nanofiltrationsmembranen mit trennaktiven Schichten aus TiO2 und SiO2. Die Filtrationsleistung der Membranen wurde für drei beispielhafte Wertstoffe (Koffein, Aescin, Inulin), deren Extraktionsverhalten im Vorfeld untersucht wurde, u.a. anhand von Rückhalt und Deckschichtbildung bewertet.

Olefin/paraffin separation is a large potential market for membrane applications. Carbon molecular sieve membranes (CMS) are promising for this application due to the intrinsically high separation performance and the viability for practical scale-up. Intrinsically high separation performance of CMS membranes for olefin/paraffin separations was demonstrated. The translation of intrinsic CMS transport properties into the hollow fiber configuration is considered in detail. Substructure collapse of asymmetric hollow fibers was found during Matrimidﾮ CMS hollow fiber formation. To overcome the permeance loss due to the increased separation layer thickness, 6FDA-DAM and 6FDA/BPDA-DAM polyimides with higher rigidity were employed as alternative precursors, and significant improvement has been achieved. Besides the macroscopic morphology control of asymmetric hollow fibers, the micro-structure was tuned by optimizing pyrolysis temperature protocol and pyrolysis atmosphere. In addition, unexpected physical aging was observed in CMS membranes, which is analogous to the aging phenomenon in glassy polymers. For performance evaluation, multiple "proof-of-concept" tests validated the viability of CMS membranes under realistic conditions. The scope of this work was expanded from binary ethylene/ethane and propylene/propane separations for the debottlenecking purpose to mixed carbon number hydrocarbon processing. CMS membranes were found to be olefins-selective over corresponding paraffins; moreover, CMS membranes are able to effectively fractionate the complex cracked gas stream in a preferable way. Reconfiguration of the hydrocarbon processing in ethylene plants is possible based on the unique CMS membranes.