Modeling of Separation on Porous Membranes
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J. Anthony Brown, Michael P. McLaughlin
Adviser: Mikhail Agrest, Ph.D.
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To solve a problem involving the
filtration of a given type of solution using membrane technology, one has
to have information about the behavior of different kinds of solution in
terms of the molecular weight distribution (MWD) with respect to a given
pore size distribution (PSD) in the employed membrane. The entire problem
to design a method of separation consists of two general stages: analysis
of the pore structure of the membrane and modeling of the filtration process
through membranes. The use of an electron microscope is essential in determining
the membrane's PSD. Images of the Gelman Sciences "Supor" membranes were
analyzed by computer imaging programs to generate a complete picture of
the PSD. The PSD were interpolated by advanced functions using "Mathematica."
Although data shows that the PSD is uniform across a particular surface,
the PSD appears to vary at different depths. This lends credibility to
the idea that the pores should be treated as cones rather than straight
cylinders. Additional investigations spanning the entire depth of the membrane
are required for a more thorough analysis.
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