CONCENTRATION POLARIZATION EFFECTS IN REVERSE OSMOSIS USING POROUS CELLULOSE ACETATE MEMBRANES

Analytical expressions have been developed to predict concentration polarization effects in reverse osmosis from the data on membrane specifications given in terms of the pure water permeability constant, A, and the solute transport parameter, DAM/Kδ. The results are illustrated for a set of Loeb-Sourirajan type porous cellulose acetate membranes using 0.5M aqeuous sodium chloride solution as the feed at an operating pressure of 102 atm. The case considered here is for turbulent and laminar flow in rectangular channels between flat parallel membranes. Some factors relating to the economic analysis of the process are also indicated. © 1968, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.