| Summary: | Thesis (Masters Diploma (Technology)--Cape Technikon, Cape Town,1993 === Various experimental and established membranes were tested on industrial effluents. Ultrafiltration,
reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes were used in various applications. Research was done
on aspects such as the cleaning of fouled membranes, production quality control and process
development.
Polyvinyl alcohol ultra-thin-film reverse osmosis membranes were manufactured for the desalination of
brackish water to a potable standard. The membranes were manufactured in the tubular
configuration.
Experimental ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes were tested on cooling
water blowdown on a laboratory-scale. On-site testing was done directly on the effluent at a later
stage. A s!udy was also conducted to determine the effect of gel-polarization on membrane
performance. The gel-layer model was used to predict the limiting flux of specific membranes.
Membrane processes were also applied in the fractionation of wine-lees to provide usable by-products
such as yeast cells and potassium bitartrate. Ultrafiltration membranes operated in diafiltration mode
were used to "wash" the slurry at different solid concentrations. The bitartrate-rich permeate collected
from ultrafiltration was then concentrated using reverse osmosis and nanofiltration to allow
subsequent precipitation of the product.
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