Experimental Evaluation of the Thermal Polarization in Direct Contact Membrane Distillation Using Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes Doped With Molecular Probes
Sergio Santoro,
Ivan Vidorreta,
Isabel Coelhoso,
Joao Carlos Lima,
Giovanni Desiderio,
Giuseppe Lombardo,
Enrico Drioli,
Reyes Mallada,
Joao Crespo,
Alessandra Criscuoli,
Alberto Figoli
Affiliations
Sergio Santoro
Institute on Membrane Technology (ITM-CNR), via P. Bucci 17/C, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Ivan Vidorreta
Institute of Nanoscience of Aragon (INA) and Department of Chemical, Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Zaragoza, C/Mariano Esquillor, s/n, I+D+i Building, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Isabel Coelhoso
LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Joao Carlos Lima
LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Giovanni Desiderio
Istituto di Nanotecnologia (CNR - NANOTEC), Via P. Bucci 31c, 87036 Rende (Cs), Italy
Giuseppe Lombardo
Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, CNR-IPCF, Viale F. Stagno D’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
Enrico Drioli
Institute on Membrane Technology (ITM-CNR), via P. Bucci 17/C, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Reyes Mallada
Institute of Nanoscience of Aragon (INA) and Department of Chemical, Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Zaragoza, C/Mariano Esquillor, s/n, I+D+i Building, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Joao Crespo
LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Alessandra Criscuoli
Institute on Membrane Technology (ITM-CNR), via P. Bucci 17/C, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Alberto Figoli
Institute on Membrane Technology (ITM-CNR), via P. Bucci 17/C, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Membrane distillation (MD) has recently gained considerable attention as a valid process for the production of fresh-water due to its ability to exploit low grade waste heat for operation and to ensure a nearly feed concentration-independent production of high-purity distillate. Limitations have been related to polarization phenomena negatively affecting the thermal efficiency of the process and, as a consequence, its productivity. Several theoretical models have been developed to predict the impact of the operating conditions of the process on the thermal polarization, but there is a lack of experimental validation. In this study, electrospun nanofiber membranes (ENMs) made of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and doped with (1, 10-phenanthroline) ruthenium (II) Ru(phen)3 were tested at different operating conditions (i.e., temperature and velocity of the feed) in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). The temperature sensitive luminophore, Ru(phen)3, allowed the on-line and non-invasive mapping of the temperature at the membrane surface during the process and the experimental evaluation of the effect of the temperature and velocity of the feed on the thermal polarization.
