Forward-osmosis-aided concentration of fructose sugar through hydrophilized polyamide membrane: Molecular modeling and economic estimation

作者：Madhumala M; Moulik S; Sankarshana T; Sridhar S^*

来源：Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2017, 134(13): 44649.

DOI：10.1002/app.44649

• membranes
• morphology
• polyamides
• separation techniques

In this study, a thin-film composite membrane based on hydrophilized polyamide was synthesized for the concentration of an aqueous fructose solution using a forward-osmosis (FO) technique. The membrane was prepared by the addition of excess m-phenylenediamine along with a small quantity of dipolar aprotic dimethyl sulfoxide solvent in the aqueous reaction bath followed by excess trimesoyl chloride in an organic bath with a longer time provided for interfacial polymerization to minimize fructose losses. The effect of operating parameters such as draw NaCl concentration, cross-flow velocity, and temperature on FO performance was evaluated. Membrane characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction to study the physicochemical properties. A coupled model based on molecular modeling and computational fluid dynamics was developed to study the diffusion behavior and concentration profiles of the two solutions within the process. A detailed economic estimation for the production of crystalline fructose sugar is presented. The study reveals the significant potential of FO as an economical process for concentration of sugar solutions using brine as the draw solution.

• 出版日期2017-4