ECUT: Energy Conversion and Utilization Technologies Program biocatalysis research activity - potential membrane applications to biocatalyzed processes: assessment of concentration polarization and membrane fouling

Technical Report · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6031194

Ingham, J D

Separation and purification of the products of biocatalyzed fermentation processes, such as ethanol or butanol, consumes most of the process energy required. Since membrane systems require substantially less energy for separation or concentration of fermentation products. This report is a review of the effects of concentration polarization and membrane fouling for the principal membrane processes: microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), and electrodialysis (ED) including a discussion of potential problems relevant to separation of fermentation products. It was concluded that advanced membrane systems may result in significantly decreased energy consumption. However, because of the need to separate large amounts of water from much smaller amounts of product that may be more volatile than water, it is not clear that membrane separations will necessarily be more efficient than alternative processes. To establish the most energy-efficient, economically effective separation technology for any specific fermentation process, it will be necessary to make detailed energy-economic assessments of alternatives, followed by experimental validation and engineering development.

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AI01-81CS66001
• OSTI ID: 6031194
• Report Number(s): JPL-PUB-83-6; ON: DE83012402
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
ALCOHOLS
BIOCONVERSION
BUTANOLS
DIALYSIS
DIFFUSION
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRODIALYSIS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
FILTRATION
FOULING
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MEMBRANES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OSMOSIS
POLARIZATION
PRODUCTION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
ULTRAFILTRATION