Computer simulation of membrane separartion processes

Abstract A computer simulation has been performed to calculate the membrane performance data for a rectangular slit configuration. This has been achieved by coupling the surface force—pore flow model for memebrane transport and the concentration—polarization model through a boundary condition. The differential equations for transport problems involved in both models have been solved by finite differences methods. Cellulose acetate and polysulfone membranes, both partially retentive to polyethylene glycol and bovin serum albumin, have been considered. The effect of variables on the solute separation, the permeation velocity and the concentraton polarization are investigated. The variables were the pressure and the feed solute concentration, both at the slit inlet, and the average pore size and the pore size distribution of the membrane.