Modeling of reverse osmosis flux of aqueous solution containing glucose

The aim of the paper is to model the permeate flux during reverse osmosis (RO) of a highly concentrated glucose solution using the osmotic pressure model. Such a model accounts for the effect of the concentration polarization phenomenon on the permeate flux. To apply this model the viscosity, the osmotic pressure of solution and the diffusion coefficient of glucose were estimated. Using mathematical simulation software, the values of mass transfer coefficient for different concentrations of glucose (5, 10, 15 and 20 wt%) and at different feed flow rate were determined. The experimental permeate flux values conducted on flat RO membranes (Type HR-99) agreed well with the values calculated by the osmotic pressure model, as shown by statistical analysis.