Optimalisatie membraancascades voor zuivering stevia-extract Probleemstelling - Membraanfiltratie als alternatief voor chromatografische scheidingstechnieken : laag chemicaliënverbruik, hoge fluxen, gemakkelijk opschaalbaar en compact, …. MAAR selectiviteit onvoldoende Integratie van individuele membraanmodules in een meertrapscascade met recycle van permeaat en/of concentraat Integratie van individuele membraanmodules in een meertrapscascade met recycle van permeaat en/of concentraat Doelstelling Doelstelling –Scheidingsvermogen voor verschillende cascades en procescondities (diafiltratievolume, druk,...) onderzoeken –Bestaande formuleringen voor binaire mengsels uitbreiden naar multicomponent mengsels –Bevindingen toepassen voor ontwerp cascades voor zuivering zoetstoffen uit Stevia-plant Literatuur studie + modelleerwerk Johan Vanneste

The role of di-electric constant, solubility parameter and surface tension in prediction of solvent transport through nanofiltration membranes Problem definition: Determination of key transport parameters in solvent resistant nanofiltration Aim: Determination of solvent and membranes specific properties (di-electric constant, solubility parameter, and membrane surface energy): Lab-work and literature study Interpretation of transport through the membranes in terms of these parameter: Lab-work and literature study Overall output: State-of-the-art knowledge introducing the new transport parameter “Di-electric constant” Siavash Darvishmanesh

Permeability of organic solvent through ceramic nanofiltration membranes Problem definition: Determination of key transport parameters in solvent Nanofiltration through ceramic NF membrane Aim: Determination of solvent parameters which effect the solvent permeability A clear understanding of solvent transport through inorganic membrane Overall output: State-of-the-art knowledge introducing the new methodology to NF transport study This project will be done in cooperation with VITO. Siavash Darvishmanesh

Phosphate Recovery in RO Concentrate Streams from WWTP by Selective Ion-exchange Membranes Problem statement – –Separation of inorganics from organics – –Separation of multivalent ions from monovalent ions – –Separation of phosphate from other anions – –Transport mechanisms in electrodialysis (ED) stack Solving method – –Lab scale ED equipment – –Analytical work TOC, anion concentration by ion chromatograph, cation concentration by AAS... – –Modelling Yang Zhang

Phosphate Recovery in RO Concentrate Streams from WWTP by Selective Ion-exchange Membranes Problems: – –Separate phosphate from RO concentrate streams by ED How to retain as much as phosphate in diluate of electrodialysis What will be the effect of other salts and organic compounds on phosphate retention – –Different ion-exchange membrane effect? Both standard and monovalent-selective ion-exchange membrane will be applied Aim: To retain phosphate in diluate side, we need: – –Right membranes Both standard ion-exchange membranes and selective ion-exchange membranes will be applied. Literature review and membrane characterization will also be done to find the “right” membranes. – –Right operation parameters Optimize the operation parameters such as pH, flowrate, applied voltage etc. will be tested to obtain better separation efficiency. Experimental work and literature review Yang Zhang

Extensieve modellering van elektrodialyse processen

Toepassingen van ionische vloeistoffen voor elektrodepositie Probleemstelling: Ionische vloeistoffen gebaseerd op choline chloride zijn in vergelijking met andere ionische vloeistoffen milieuvriendelijker. Om de juiste milieu-impact te kennen moet echter het volledige proces geëvalueerd worden. Doelstelling: - berekeningsmethode voor emissies opstellen - emissies kwantificeren - identificeren afbraakproducten - voorkomen afbraakproducten Literatuur studie + modelleerwerk + praktisch werk Kurt Haerens

Determination of transport mechanism through commercial and laboratory-made solvent-resistant nanofiltration (SRNF) membranes Challenges of SRNF: Development of membranes → → high and reproducible performances → → high stability in organic solvents Understanding of the transport mechanism through SRNF-membranes → → importance of mutual interactions: solute-solvent, solute-membrane, solvent- membrane Problems: Commercially available membranes often not stable in agressive organic solvents Physico-chemical properties of the membranes – CONFIDENTIAL => lack of information necessary for modelling… Aim: To determine transport mechanism through commercial and laboratory-made membranes Steps: → →Membrane preparation → →Membrane characterization → →Flux and rejection measurements => HIGH-THROUGHPUT UNIT = many data available in short time!!!! Experimental work and literature review Agnieszka Dobrak

Determination of transport through commercial and laboratory-made membranes in pervaporation Pervaporation: partial vapourization of liquid mixture through a membrane by applying vacuum at the permeate side separation mechanism defined by differences in solubility of different components into the membrane structure and different rates of diffusion through the membrane material Hydrophilic membranes: dehydratation of organic solvents Hydrophobic membranes: removal of organic contaminants from water => INTEREST OF THIS STUDY Objective: Experimental observation of the membrane performance => understanding of the transport through the membrane Steps: → → Membrane preparation → → Membrane characterization → → Flux and selectivity measurements: => HIGH-THROUGHPUT UNIT = many data available in short time !!!! Experimental work and literature review Agnieszka Dobrak

De membraanvervuiling na ozonoxidatie van NF-concentraat NF is een aantrekkelijke technologie bij drinkwaterproductie, maar verdere behandeling van het concentraat vormt één van de grootste uitdagingen. Steven Van Geluwe Eén of twee studenten (apart of duothesis) Probleem: NOM is een geduchte vervuiler bij NF Doelstelling: bepaal de optimale dosis O 3 + H 2 O 2 en reactietijd voor het concentraat zodat - geen opconcentrering van organische koolstof - geen bijkomende membraanvervuiling Oplossing: oxidatie van NOM m.b.v. O 3 (+ H 2 O 2 )