L’objectif de cette thèse est de mettre en évidence le comportement à l’échelle microscopique des composés organiques au cours des procédés de traitement de mélanges complexes, en particulier les procédés membranaires. Pour cela des outils expérimentaux et de modélisation ont été mis au point. Les méthodes de caractérisation expérimentale des mélanges complexes et de l’état de surface des solides utilisés sont entre autres la construction d’isothermes d’adsorption et la mesure des tensions interfaciales par la méthode de la goutte posée. Le cas étudié ici est celui de la filtration de solutions modèles de tensioactifs par osmose inverse. Nous avons montré que le comportement des composés organiques (tensioactifs) influence la performance du procédé membranaire et les propriétés de membranes. L’outil de simulation du comportement des composés en phase liquide et à l’interface liquide-solide permettant une description à une échelle plus fine que celle atteignable expérimentalement est la DPD (Dissipative Particle Dynamics). Une première étape a permis de simuler l’agrégation des tensioactifs en solution et de retrouver les valeurs expérimentales des concentrations micellaires critiques et nombres d’agrégation de tensioactifs anioniques. L’étude de l’adsorption des tensioactifs sur une membrane d’osmose inverse a été initiée, avec pour objectif de mettre en évidence l’organisation des composés à l’échelle locale. L’apport des outils développés a été démontré et leur utilisation pourra être approfondie dans des travaux ultérieurs. / The aim of this work is a better understanding of the microscopic behavior of organic matters during the wastewater treatment of complex mixtures, especially during the membrane processes. Both experimental and simulation methods were developed in this work. Experimentally, adsorption isotherms were built to study the adsorption of organic matters on the membrane surface during the filtration. The sessile drop measurement allowed investigating the surface properties (interfacial tensions) of the membrane. After the filtration of surfactants by reverse osmosis (RO), we found that the surfactants played an important role in the performance and the surface properties of the RO membrane. The DPD (Dissipative Particle Dynamics) simulation method was used to model the behavior of anionic surfactants in solution and at the solid/liquid interface from a more detailed aspect than experiments. Firstly, the micellization of three anionic surfactants in aqueous solution was simulated and the model was validated by comparing the equilibrium properties (the critical micelle concentration and aggregation number) of micelle solutions obtained from simulation to the experimental values in literature. Then the model was extended to simulate the adsorption of surfactants on the RO membrane. The construction of a system with a membrane was initiated, and the study on the organizations of surfactants at the membrane surface opens a door to further active research.

Orientador: Fernanda Elizabeth Xidieh Murr / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-03T18:27:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alves_DeniseGomes_D.pdf: 7580530 bytes, checksum: db12199d14d28ee9a851ac02dd6b4351 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003 / Resumo: O presente trabalho teve a finalidade de obter acerola em passa utilizando processos combinados de desidratação osmótica e secagem. Foi estudada a influência da desidratação osmótica utilizando soluções binária (água+sacarose) e ternária (água+sacarose+sal) na secagem convectiva de acerola (Malpighia punicifolia L.). Para os pré-tratamentos foram avaliadas as influências do tempo (30 e 90 minutos), temperatura (25 e 60°C) e concentração de sacarose (30 e 60 % p/p) para a solução binária e concentração de sacarose (20 e 50% p/p) para a solução ternária (10% de sal), nas respostas perda de peso, perda de água, ganho de sólidos e na relação ganho de sólidos/perda de água. Para cada solução foi escolhida uma condição para proceder à secagem convectiva e essa condição foi determinada pelo menor valor da relação ganho de sólidos/perda de água. As condições escolhidas foram: solução binária com 60% de sacarose e solução ternária com 50% de sacarose e 10% de sal, ambas na mesma temperatura de 60°C e mesmo tempo de imersão (90 minutos). Foram avaliadas as influências da temperatura (43, 50, 60, 70 e 77°C) e velocidade do ar de secagem (0,50; 0,65; 1,00; 1,35 e 1,50 m/s) nas respostas atividade de água (aw), perda de vitamina C (PC) e tempo de secagem (ts). A acerola desidratada osmoticamente com solução ternária apresentou menores valores de aw, PC e ts. A acerola congelada apresentou os maiores valores de aw, PC e ts, enquanto que a desidratada osmoticamente com solução binária apresentou valores intermediários entre as outras duas condições. Para a análise sensorial foram escolhidos amostras com menores valores de aw, PC e ts. A acerola congelada não foi avaliada sensorialmente por apresentar valores de aw muito elevados, próximos aos valores apresentados pela fruta in natura. A acerola desidratada osmoticamente com solução binária foi a mais aceita pelos provadores situando-se entre as categorias "gostei ligeiramente" e "gostei moderadamente" / Abstract: In the present work it was studied the influence of the osmotic dehydration process using binary (sucrose+water) and ternary (sucrose+salt+water) solutions in the convective drying of acerola fruit (Malpíghía punícífolía L.). Pretreatments were evaluated by influences of immersion time (30 and 90 minutes), temperature (25 and 60°C) and sucrose concentration (30 and 60% w/w) for binary solution and sucrose concentration (20 and 50% w/w) for the ternary solution (10% of salt), on responses of weight loss, water loss, solid gain and solid gain/water loss ratio. For each solution, a condition was stablished to proceed to the convective drying and that condition was determined by the smallest value of the solid gain/water loss ratio. The chosen conditions were: binary solution with 60% of sucrose and ternary solution with 50% of sucrose and 10% of salt, both in the same temperature of 60°C and same immersion time (90 minutes. Influences of temperature (43, 50,60, 70 and 77OC) and air velocities (0,50; 0,65; 1,00; 1,35 and 1,50 m/s) on responses water activity (aw), vitamin C loss (PC) and drying time (ts). Osmotically dehydrated acerola fruit with ternary solution presented smaller values of aw, PC and ts. Frozen acerola fruit presented the largest values of aw, PC and ts, while osmotically dehydrated acerola fruit with binary solution presented intermediate values as compared to other conditions. For sensorial analysis they were chosen samples with smaller values of aw, PC and ts. The frozen acerola fruit was not evaluated in sensorial analysis because presented very high values of aw, close to the values presented by fresh fruit. Osmotically dehydrated acerola fruit with binary solution was more acceptable, with acceptance values in the categories "Iiked lightly" and "liked moderately." / Doutorado / Engenharia de Alimentos / Doutor em Engenharia de Alimentos

Orientador: Fernanda Elizabeth Xidieh Murr / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T02:39:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Araujo_EderAugustoFurtado_D.pdf: 3550124 bytes, checksum: 4ae4c9ab1e30f5794d31594fe6304ecd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Doutorado / Engenharia de Alimentos / Doutor em Engenharia de Alimentos

This study investigates the desalination needs and available technologies in Sri Lanka. Lack of rainfall, pollution due to agricultural chemicals, presence of fluoride, increasing demand, exploitation of ground water and brackishness have created scarcity of fresh pure water specially in near costal and dry zones in Sri Lanka. Due to Cronic Kidney Disease (CKD) around 500 people died in dry zones annually which is suspected to cause by Arsenic and Cadmium contain in ground water due to agriculture chemicals.   The available desalination methods are Reverse Osmosis (RO), Solar distillation and conventional methods. The cost for RO is Rs.0.10 cents per liter and solar distillation Rs.2.96 per liter. Although the price shows that the RO is better but due to high initial investment as a third world country it is very difficult to afford huge initial investment without government intervention. The experimental solar desalination units only produce nearly 5liters of potable water per day and directly impacted by availability of solar radiation. The energy availability of Sri Lanka and future potable water demand predicted as 2188.3 Mn liters as maximum demand which will be in 2030, therefore by that time the government should have a proper plan to cater the demand and desalination plants need to be planned and built based on the demand of dry zones and specially agriculture areas.   The applicability of renewable energy for desalination in local arena was also simulated taking the Delf Reverse Osmosis plant for the simulation. Results show that the optimum design is combination of Solar PV and existing 100kW Diesel generator Set with Battery bank and converter.

Ingeniera Civil en Biotecnología / Ingeniera Civil Química / El objetivo de este trabajo fue el desarrollo de membranas para osmosis inversa con capacidad anti-bioincrustante por la incorporación de nanopartículas de TiO2 y TiO2modificado con SDS. La síntesis de poliamida fue obtenida por el proceso de polimerización interfacial, fundamentada en la reacción de policondensación entre la fase acuosa de m-fenildiamina (MPD) y la fase orgánica de 1, 3, 5-bencentricarbonilo (TMC), sobre un soporte poroso de polisulfona (PS). Las nanopartículas de TiO2 o TiO2-SDS fueron incorporadas en las distintas capas PA/PS de la membrana, dispersándolas en la solución de MPD para el caso PA, y en la solución casting cuando fueron introducidas en la capa PS. Las membranas sintetizadas fueron caracterizadas por Difracción de Rayos X (XRD), Espectroscopia infrarroja por Transformada de Fourier, Microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM), Espectroscopia de energía dispersa por rayos X (EDX) y Microscopía de fuerza atómica (AFM). Los ensayos biológicos para determinar la capacidad anti-bioincrustante consistieron en: conteo de unidades viables formadoras de colonia (ufc) y pruebas de adhesión bacteriana para la bacteria E. coli. La adhesión bacteriana se corroboró tiñendo las muestras con el fluoróforo 4 ',6-diamino-2-fenilindol (DAPI) y observándolas con un microscopio de epifluorescencia. Los análisis XRD demostraron la presencia del dióxido de titanio en las membranas sintetizadas, además permitieron constatar que el TiO2 no sufrió cambios de fases al ser incorporado en las distintas capas PA/PS de las membranas, ni tampoco, cuando fue modificado con SDS. La formación de la capa de poliamida sobre los soportes de polisulfona se corroboró mediante los espectros de FTIR. Las micrografías obtenidas por SEM permitieron observar la morfología de valles y montes en la superficie de las membranas sintetizadas. El análisis elemental EDX corroboró la presencia de las nanopartículas en las distintas capas PA/PS en las que fueron incorporadas. Por AFM se determinó que las membranas a las cuales se les incorporó TiO2 en su capa de poliamida son menos rugosas, en comparación a las membranas sin modificación. Las membranas modificadas presentaron capacidad bactericida, más aún, las membranas con incorporación de TiO2 en PA mostraron una disminución en cuanto a, adhesión bacteriana. Ambos efectos (bactericida y anti-adhesión) permitieron determinar que las membranas sintetizadas presentan capacidad anti-bioincrustante, siendo (PA+TiO2-SDS)/PSL la que presentó el mejor comportamiento.

Magíster en Gestión para la Globalización / La presente tesis tiene como objeto desarrollar un plan de negocios para internacionalizar el know how de recuperación de membranas utilizadas en los procesos de desalación de agua, como por ejemplo los procesos de Osmosis Inversa desarrollados exitosamente por Minera Escondida en Puerto Coloso. Los principales resultados son tres: un estudio de mercado que entrega datos concretos sobre la creciente industria de desalación, metodología para valorar la propiedad intelectual incluida en este servicio y una lista de clientes contactados para facilitar su internacionalización. Se eligió el sector minero, de acuerdo a la experiencia en desalación y membranas que maneja el emprendedor de REGENERA, empresa que se dedica a la reutilización de membranas de Osmosis Inversa. Existe una necesidad concreta para desalinizar agua. Todo indica que las fuentes de aguas subterráneas y superficiales son cada vez más escasas, por lo que muchos países y empresas han debido desarrollar plantas desaladoras para asegurar su abastecimiento de agua potable. Por otro lado, la desalación se plantea como una de las soluciones más viables en el mundo para aumentar la oferta de agua a países pobres que sufren de sequía, ya que al disminuir el costo promedio de obtención de agua hace más atractiva esta solución. Los cálculos de esta tesis indican una posibilidad de aumentar la producción de agua potable obtenida a través de desalación de un 16% adicional en 5 años. Como parte fundamental de la metodología se realiza una exploración a la valoración de licencias de Propiedad Intelectual, descripción de marketing de servicios y procesos de internacionalización de una empresa con énfasis en el mercado australiano. Los principales resultados son un sólido modelo de internacionalización y su principal recomendación es continuar los esfuerzos de venta sin mayor retraso. En estos precisos momentos se encuentra una oportunidad de mercado clave, ya que BHP se encuentra construyendo una de las plantas de desalinización más grandes del mundo (para temas mineros), inversión que involucra más de 3,5 mil millones de dólares.

Los procesos de membrana han alcanzado una amplia aceptación dentro de diversos campos. Sin embargo, la producción de membranas europea no está en relación con el volumen de su utilización, por lo que interesa desarrollarla. La investigación y desarrollo en la producción de membranas busca obtener membranas con características de separación y resistencia eficaces y cada vez más adaptadas a procesos específicos. La presente tesis entra dentro de esta línea afrontando: 1. La determinación de las variables influyentes en la preparación mediante el método de inversión de fase por inmersión - precipitación de membranas compuestas de Acetato de Celulosa sobre soporte no-tejido dentro de los rangos de ósmosis inversa y nanofiltración. 2. El establecimiento de las bases para la fabricación en máquina de membranas compuestas mediante la comparación de los resultados experimentales del método manual de fabricación con los obtenidos en un prototipo de máquina de fabricación industrial de membranas planas existente en el Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Nuclear de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. Los resultados obtenidos permitieron evaluar los efectos de la variación de las condiciones de fabricación sobre el comportamiento y características de la membrana fabricada. No obstante, el método manual presentó elevada dispersión y baja reproducibilidad, si bien, los resultados que se obtienen se pueden considerar orientativos para la fabricación en máquina, si se tiene en cuenta la salvedad de que un soporte de membrana adecuado en el método manual podría no serlo para la fabricación en máquina. / Gozálvez Zafrilla, JM. (1998). Fabricación de membranas de acetato de celulosa aptas para osmosis inversa y nanofiltración mediante el método de inversión de fase [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/4281 / Palancia

Currently, the most utilized desalination technology is reverse osmosis (RO), where a membrane is used as a physical barrier to separate the salts from the seawater, using high hydraulic pressure as driving force. A major problem in RO systems is biofouling, caused by severe growth of bacterial biofilms. Both, the need of an external energy input, as well as biofouling, impose a high cost on RO operation. Forward osmosis (FO) is an alternative membrane process that uses an osmotic pressure difference as driving force. FO uses a concentrated draw solution to generate high osmotic pressure, which extracts water across a semi permeable membrane from a feed solution. One of the main advantages of FO is the limited amount of external energy required to extract water from the feed solution. The objective of this research is the assessment of the impact of spacers, separating the membrane sheets, and biofouling on the FO system performance. This type of studies allow the optimization of membrane devices and operational conditions. For this, a two dimensional numerical model for FO systems was developed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This model allowed the evaluation of the impact of (i) spacers and (ii) biofilm, and (iii) the combined impact of spacers and biofilm on the performance of FO systems. The results obtained showed that the presence of spacers improved the performance of FO systems. Cavity configuration spacer gave the higher water flux across the membrane in clean systems; whereas for biofouled systems, the submerged configuration showed a better performance. In absence of spacers, the thickness or amount of biofilm is inversely proportional with the water flux. Furthermore, membrane surface coverage of the biofilm is more important than the amount of biofilm in terms of the impact on the performance. The numerical model can be adapted with other parameters (e.g. membrane and spacer thickness, feed and draw solution, solution concentration, etc.) to predict the impact of biofilm on FO systems under different experimental conditions. The use of numerical modeling may contribute to faster development of economic viable FO based desalination systems.

One of most major concerns from both cost-effective and technical point of view in membrane process industry is membrane cleaning. The aim of the project was to investigate the variations in membrane surface properties and separation efficiency of reverse osmosis membrane. Compativtive analysis have to be performed on four RO membrane before and after exposing the virgin membrane into chemical cleaning to identify and analysis the impact of the chemical cleaning on the performance of RO membrane. Commerical chemical cleaning used in this project were caustic and acidic cleaning agent. The project’s aim is the investigation of simulation software’s precision for the four membranes performance projection at different conditions of the feed water. The assessment of the membranes performance was done in the Innovation Cluster at pilot plant that was industrial in size. The main commercial elements used were the thin-film composite membranes with a spiral-wound of 8-inch polyamide. Ultrafiltration (UF) and seawater RO membrane pretreatment process was done for the red sea sourced feed water. A pressure vessel dimensioned at 8-inch was operated in conjunction with an individual element at 8 -20 m3/hr feed flow rate, with an 8 to 12 % recovery and an average 35,000-42,000 mg/L of total dissolved solids (TDS) composition for the feed water. To achieve the project’s aim in assessing the membranes, three phase experimental stages were completed. The membranes performance was assessed in terms of their water flux, salt rejection, boron rejection, bicarbonate rejection and permeate quality. In addition, the membrane surfaces were characterized after exposing the fresh membranes with a chemical cleaning reagent. The experimental results showed an increase in both permeate flow and salt passage for all studied elements. The changes in the membranes performance were systematically explained based on the changes in the charge density and chemical structure of the membranes surface. The experimental results showed that both the physical and chemical surface properties of the membranes do not significantly alter under standard industrial conditions. These results shed some light on the effects of chemical cleaning in a pilot-scale RO plant and improve our understanding to provide a potential research direction for cleaning methods of membranes.

Water samples were taken at the KAUST RO plant, the WDRC pilot plant and three other full-scale desalination installations in Saudi Arabia. The water was characterized using selected microbiological parameters, being conventional (heterotopic place count (HPC), total coliforms, Escherichia coli) and more novel and sensitive methods (adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP, a measure for bacterial activity), as well as total and intact bacterial cell concentrations (TDC using flow cytometry) and supporting parameters (pH, conductivity, residual chlorine and temperature). Selective samples were used to quantify the bacterial growth potential (“food for the bacteria”), applying a flow cytometer based easily Assimilable Organic Carbon (AOC) assay. Hypothesized was that no or very low bacterial numbers would occur after RO filtration in the plants due to the high rejection properties of the RO membranes and the produced water exceptionally low mineral and nutrient content. Key findings are that the (i) RO permeate contains bacterial cell concentrations exceeding 1.0 × 103 cells/mL. The highest percentage of cells are intact and active, based on the ATP and total cell counts (ii) advanced microbial parameters ATP and TDC enabled to detect and quantify bacteria numbers and activity while the less sensitive conventional plate counts based techniques did not, (iii) flow cytometer-based growth potential measurements indicate the presence of 8 µg AOC/L in the RO permeate. A typical last step in drinking water production is chlorination, effectively inactivating all the bacterial cells. The origin of the bacterial cells and the biodegradable nutrients enabling the bacterial growth in the RO permeate is not clear. There is a clear need to assess the origin of the nutrients and bacteria found in the RO produced water. It is not expected to be passing the RO membrane.