Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11681/29250
Title: Comparative Evaluation of Ultrafiltration/Microfiltration Membranes for Removal of Nitrocellulose (NC) Fines From Wastewater
Authors: Kim, Byung J. (Byung Joo)
Clark, Mark M.
Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (U.S.)
Lee, Yonghun
Keywords: Sewage--Purification--Filtration
Membrane filters
Nitrocellulose--Environmental aspects
Publisher: Construction Engineering Research Laboratories (U.S.)
Series/Report no.: Technical Report (Construction Engineering Research Laboratories (U.S.));no. 97/116
Abstract: Nitrocellulose (NC) is a basic constituent for military gun propellants. NC wastewater is a byproduct of the NC manufacturing process. Crossflow microfiltration/ultrafiltration (MF/UF) may recover NC fines and allow the wastewater to be recycled. This bench-scale crossflow membrane filtration system was constructed to test the application of MF/UF technology to NC wastewater. This study was conducted in two phases. The results of Phase I were used to select a candidate membrane. In Phase II, a pilot-scale crossflow membrane filtration system was constructed to: (1) investigate the concentration polarization and fouling mechanism caused by NC fines during crossflow filtration of NC wastewater, (2) explore flux decline behavior of NC wastewater streams with various membranes, and (3) study the effects of operating parameters on flux decline behavior. This study found that: 1. UF membranes have a lower flux decline rate and a higher flux recovery than MF membranes, but UF membranes have a relatively low permeate production rate compared to MF membranes. 2. A critical membrane pore size of about 0.1 μm exists, at which point the worst flux performance occurs. 3. The cellulose-based hydrophilic membranes have the best flux performance.
Description: Technical Report
Gov't Doc #: USACERL Technical Report 97/116
Rights: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11681/29250
Appears in Collections:Technical Report

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