Membrane Distillation (MD) is an emerging thermally driven membrane process that can be applied to concentrate acid and recover fresh water from acidic wastewater solutions. MD has the advantages of requiring mainly low-grade thermal energy (i.e. waste heat, solar thermal), being simple to operate and having a high robustness being suitable for operation in harsh environments or with little maintenance/monitoring. MD is one of the core expertise of the IPE group at AEE INTEC and within several national and international the technology has been applied to solve different industrial problems related to water treatment and/or recovery of valuable substances. The presentation will give an overview on the technical aspects of the technology, its possible applications including case studies, its capabilities and its costs. The webinar is also intended to get feedback from the participants on specific water problems related to the mining industry.

1. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
AEE - Institute for Sustainable Technologies (AEE INTEC)
8200 Gleisdorf, Feldgasse 19, AUSTRIA
AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at 24.10.2016
Membrane Distillation
using waste heat and/or solar
process heat
Christoph Brunner
Head of Industrial Processes and Energy Sytsems

2. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
1988
2018
AEE - Institute for Sustainable Technologies
was founded in1988 as a non-university
research institute. It is today
one of the leading institutions in the field of
renewable energy and resource efficiency.

3. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Research
Development
Consulting
Training
In the world of renewable energy and
resource efficiency we transform ideas
into reality through:

4. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Industrial
Processes and
Energy Systems
Christoph Brunner
Energy and Resource Efficiency for the Industry
––––––
Process Intensification
Membrane Distillation
––––––
Industry in Energy Systems
––––––
Solar Process Heat
Building
and
Retrofit
Monitoring
and Lab
Thermal Energy
Technologies
and Hybrid
Systems

5. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
What is Membrane Distillation?
= thermal separation process
 For separating vaporous molecules
from liquids
 Driving force: Vapour Pressure
Difference (temperature difference
∆T between Feed and Permeat)
 Atmospheric pressure
∆T
[1] http://www.campz.de/gore-tex.html
Condensate

6. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Advantages of Membrane Distillation
Produces pure distillate
Operation at atmospheric pressure
Evaporation at low temperatures (30 - 80°C)
Operation with waste heat (industry) and solarthermal energy
possible
Reduced electrical costs
Operation up to high concentrations ( cristallization)
Less fouling and cleaning expenditure
Applicable in low temperature applications (e.g. temperature
sensitive liquids)

7. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Configurations of MD

8. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Configurations of MD
Vacuum-MD
for separating volatiles
Direct-Contact-MD
for separating liquids

9. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Applications of Membrane Distillation
Separation of water
2. Concentrate as Product for reuse
Waste/By-Product: Water separated
Examples
• metal recovery from rinsing water
• juice concentration
• COD concentration
• Pulp & Paper: black liquor
• …
1. (Pure) Water as Product for
further use
Waste: Concentrated Stream
Examples
• Desalination
• Galvanic industry – recovery of
rinsing water
• …
Feed Stream
Concentrated Stream
Water H2O

10. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Separation of water @ AEE INTEC
 Recovery of liquids containing metals (f.i. Au, Pd, Cr, Co,
Fe, Zn, …) by separating water
 Example: Gold (Au) recovery
Further information about projects on aee-intec.ati

11. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Applications of Membrane Distillation
Separation of volatiles
1. Volatile component as Product in
Permeate
Waste/By-Product: Feed Stream
Examples
• Recovery of ammonia
• for fertilizer production
• further use in fuel cell
• recovery of aroma compounds
• separation of alcohols
• …
2. Reduction of volatile ingredients in
Feed
„Waste“/By-Product: Permeate
Examples
• Ammonia separation in Waste Water
treatment plants
• Ammonia separation in biogas residues
• …
Feed Stream incl Volatiles
Feed Stream
reduced volatiles
Volatiles

12. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Separation of volatiles @ AEE INTEC
 Recovery of volatiles in liquids (f.i. alcohols, ammonia,
acids, …)
 Example: Ammonia(-gas) separation through MD
Further information about projects on aee-intec.ati
V-MD
Direct use of gas
– fuel cell, process etc.
Condensate use as liquid
– fertilizer, process, etc.

13. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Potentials for MD in different industries
Pulp- &
Paper
Industry
Galvanic
Industry
Food and
Beverages
De-
salination
Bio-based
Industry
Waste
Water
Treatment
Textile
Industry
Hybrid
Systems
Chemical
Industry
Mining

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Accomplishments @ AEE INTEC
K
Wärmepumpe
Faulturm
anaerob
Trocknung
„AR-HES-B“
Stromnetz
Gasnetz
Fernwärmenetz
Stromnetz
Gasnetz
Fernwärmenetz
Gas
Gasnetz
Wärme
Strom
Schlamm
Wasser
Wärme
Biogas-
Aufbereitung
Stickstoff
Mechanische
Vorreinigung
Kanalnetz
MD
Membran-
destillation
Stickstoff
Biogas-
Speicher
Biomasse
Pellets
(Speicher)
Strom
KWK
Stickstoffkonzentrat
Kohlenstoff
Gas
Entwicklung Systemische Varianten (Verschränkung mit den Netzen)
Phosphat-
Entfernung
SystemgrenzeKläranlage
Anaerober
Hochleistungs-
reaktor
Wärmepumpe
Brauchwassernetz
Reinst-
wasser
Wärme
Phosphat
WWTP
GalvanicIndustry
Pulp-andPaper
Module Development
& Design
Plant Design System
Integration
Biogasplants
Foodindustry
Experimental
studies

15. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
MD @ AEE INTEC
Pilot Plant
(mobile container – experiments on site)
Laboratory Plant

16. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
MD on the market
[2] https://www.memsys.eu/
[1] https://solarspring.de/de/produkte/#stofftrennung

17. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Benchmarks for MD
 280 – 700 kWhth/m3
Permeat depending on:
− Operating temperature (lower temperature – more energy
required)
− Internal heat recovery
− Properties of liquid (viscosity, concentration,…)
− …
 Operational costs compared to Ultrafiltration (UF)

18. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
AEE - Institute for Sustainable Technologies (AEE INTEC)
8200 Gleisdorf, Feldgasse 19, AUSTRIA
AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at 24.10.2016
Membrane Distillation
using waste heat and/or solar
process heat
Bettina Muster
Industrial Processes and Energy Systems

19. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at | 03.12.2018
MD @ AEE INTEC
Membrane Specification
 Hydrophobicity by Contact Angle Measurements
 Chemical Resistance
 Physical Stability by Liquid Entry Pressures (LEP) Tests

20. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at | 03.12.2018
MD @ AEE INTEC
Module Design
 Numerical Simulations
 Module Configuration
 Geometrical Parameters
 Process Parameters

21. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at | 03.12.2018
MD @ AEE INTEC
Membrane Distillation Plant Design
Module Assembly

22. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at | 03.12.2018
MD @ AEE INTEC
Experiments
 Preliminary / Feasibility Tests
 Lab-Scale Experiments
 Demonstration Plant Experiments

23. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at | 03.12.2018
MD @ AEE INTEC
MD System Up-scaling
 Lab / Demo Scale → Real System Design
 Scheme for MD Process Integration
 Economics of the MD Process

24. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at | 03.12.2018
Application Examples
 Galvanic Industry
 Electroplating Industry

25. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at | 03.12.2018
Galvano MD
 Content/Results
−Membrane distillation for energy-efficient treatment
(concentration) of electroplating liquids
−Concentration of contaminated rinsing water from
electroplating substances for reuse in the production
process
 Funding: FFG Energieforschung
 Coordinator: AEE INTEC
 Partners: Rotreat, Solarspring

26. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Production Process Roto Frank Austria
GmbH - challenges
Savings passivation concentrate: 60%
Savings water: 93 %

27. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at | 03.12.2018
Experimental studies –
 Long-term tests in by-bass
 Operating parameters
− Flow rate Feed and
Permeate: 140 l/h-modul (5 modules)
− Temperature Feed: 80°C
− Temperature Permeat: 18-20°C

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Experimental setup

29. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Transm. Flux over operating time
Concentration increase over operational time – optical verification

30. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Transmembrane Flux depending on
concentration

31. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Results – Salt Spray Test
 Comparision:
Passivation (original) from bath (left) vs. Concentrate from MD
process (right)
Substrate : galvanized steel

32. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at | 03.12.2018
Energetical system integration MD
 Identified waste heat potentials
− Chiller
 Temperature level: 45 °C
 Waste heat amount: 539 MWh/a
− Air compressor
 Temperature level: 85 °C
 Waste heat amount: 349 MWh/a
− Process Heat zinc bath
 Temperature level: 29 °C
 Waste heat amount: 392 MWh/a
 Solar process heat as potential energy source
SUNMARK

33. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at | 03.12.2018
MD-Gold
 Content/Results
−Innovative membrane distillation for gold and
palladium recovery in the PCB industry
 Funding: FFG Produktion der Zukunft
 Coordinator: AEE INTEC
 Partners: ROtreat, AT&S

34. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at | 03.12.2018
Approach

35. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Membrane performance – long-term
operation in laboratory scale (GOLD
solution)
 Conditions
• T_F,in=35 [°C]
• T_P,in=16 [°C]
• Velocity_F,P=0,13 [m s-1]
• Flux ~ 6 [l h-1 m-2]
Figure: transmembrane Flux and ∆T over experimental time

36. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Membrane performance – long-term
operation in laboratory scale
 Conditions
• T_F,in=35 [°C]
• T_P,in=16 [°C]
• Velocity_F,P=0,13 [m s-1]
Figure: transmembrane Flux and ∆T over experimental time
Analyzation results proofed:
• Gold solution reusable
• Permeate reusable in rinsing
Quality test & plating of gold solution
Figure: PCB Plating Tests with recycled Gold Solution
(AT&S, 2018)

37. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Processing design for demonstration plant
• Operating Temperatures :
• TF,in=35 [°C] – TP,in=16-20 [°C]
• Absolute Separation Rate =15 - 17 [L h-1]
• Membrane Area ~ 20-30 [m2]
• 15-20 kW thermal energy demand – waste heat
integration (chiller)
• 15-20 kW cooling energy demand – pre-heating
freshwater
• GOR sys = 0,65 – 0,8

38. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Conclusion and Outlook electroplating
industry
 Membrane identified
 Stability proofed
 Gold solution reusable
 Permeate reusable
 Operating parameters defined
 Optimized Module Design
 Process Design
o Demonstrator installed in
2018

39. AEE – INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIESwww.aee-intec.at
Conclusions for the Copper Industry
MD delivers
 Water at very high purity
 (Selective) volatile removal
 High concentration of process fluids
without thermal or hydraulic stress of medium
MD potential for
 waste water treatment or
 Process fluid recovery
Thermal energy supply
 Excess heat
 Solar thermal
Challenges
 Fouling/Cleaning
 Long-term operation

40. Thank you
for your Attention