The influence of operational conditions on ultrafiltration of oil - in - water emulsions

Raziskava v okviru diplomskega dela temelji na proučevanju delovanja komercialne ultrafiltracijske (UF) membrane za čiščenje oljno-vodnih emulzij. Proučevali smo gostoto volumskega toka (ang. flux) skozi UF membrano v odvisnosti od časa pri konstantnem transmembranskem tlaku (TMP) pri ultrafiltraciji oljno-vodnih emulzij z različnimi sestavami in vpliv TMP na gostoto volumskega toka. Iz meritev obratovanja UF pilotne naprave smo določili mehanizme mašenja membran glede na padec gostote volumskega toka. Pred in po obdelavi oljno-vodne emulzije smo spremljali naslednje fizikalno-kemijske parametre: prevodnost, pH, motnost, vsebnost Al3+ in Fe2+ ionov, kemijsko potrebo po kisiku (KPK) ter mineralna olja. Na podlagi rezultatov analiz smo določili učinkovitost čiščenja posameznih komponent. Kljub temu, da se koncentracije vseh komponent bistveno znižajo, ne ustrezajo mejnim vrednostim, ki so določene v slovenski zakonodaji (UL RS št. 45, leto 2007).The context of the thesis is based on studying the function of commercial ultrafiltration (UF) membrane for cleaning oil-in-water emulsions. Flux through the UF membrane was studied as a function of time at constant operating conditions on ultrafiltration oil-in-water emulsions with different compositions and the influence of transmembrane pressure (TMP) on the flux. Fouling mechanisms on the membrane were determined from measurements of UF pilot plant operation according to the flux decline. Before and after treatment of oil-in-water emulsions the following physical-chemical parameters were monitored: conductivity, pH, turbidity, content of Al3+ and Fe2+ ions, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and mineral oils. The effectiveness of cleaning the individual components was determined based on the results of the analysis. Despite the fact that concentrations of all components decrease significantly, they do not comply with the limits set out in the Slovenian legislation (UL RS št. 45, leto 2007)