GPC 458: Membrane Separation Processes

Title of the EU Cr. CM TD TP TPE

GPC 458: Membrane Separation Processes 3 15 5 10 15
Instructor: Jacques Romain NJIMOU
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]
School: School of Chemical Engineering and Mineral Industries, University of Ngaoundéré
Address: P.O. Box 454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon Phone: (+237) 675 036570 (cell)
ResearchGate of Dr. Njimou https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jacques_Romain_Njimou

Dr. Jacques Romain Njimou is a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering and Inorganic Chemistry at
the School of Chemical Engineering and Mineral Industries, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon. He
holds joint Ph.D. degrees in Chemical and Process Engineering from the University of Rome "La Sapienza",
Italy, and in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. His research interests
include the development of innovative low-cost nanoscale materials, metal-organic networks (MOFs) for
energy-efficient water sanitation technologies, environmental applications, and advances in separation
technologies such as nano-membranes and filters. Dr. Njimou has received numerous fellowships and
published numerous publications, with presentations at international conferences in Africa, Europe and the
Americas. His teaching strategy integrates theoretical knowledge with practical applications. Dr. Njimou
has received numerous fellowships, including the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program (USA), AIAS-AUFF
Fellowship (Denmark), INSA–JRD TATA Fellowship (CSIR-IMMT, India), National Scholarship
Program of the Slovak Republic, Volkswagen Foundation (Germany), Erasmus Mundus ACP II (Italy),
and the Eugen Ionescu Fellowship (Romania).

Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive overview of membrane separation processes, a crucial area
in chemical engineering and related fields. It covers the fundamentals, applications, and recent
advances in membrane technology. Topics include various types of membranes, transport
phenomena, process design, and applications in water treatment, petrochemicals, food processing,
and pharmaceuticals. The course emphasizes theoretical understanding and practical skills,
preparing students to meet the challenges of separation from the real world.

Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand the fundamentals of membrane separation processes.
• Classify different types of membranes and their properties.
• Analyze transport phenomena in membrane systems.
• Design and optimize membrane separation processes for specific applications.
• Evaluate the advantages and limitations of membrane technology compared to
conventional separation methods.
• Apply membrane separation techniques in various industrial sectors.
Course Content
1. Introduction to Membrane Separation Processes
• Overview of separation techniques
• Introduction to membrane technology
• Advantages and disadvantages of membrane processes
• Historical development of membrane technology
2. Materials and Structures of Membranes
• Types of membranes: polymeric, ceramic, liquid and composite
• Membrane morphology: dense, porous, isotropic and anisotropic
• Membrane properties: permeability, selectivity and resistance to fouling
• Membrane module configurations: plates and frames, spiral winding, and hollow
fibers
3. Transport Phenomena in Membranes
• Driving forces: pressure, concentration, electrical potential
• Solution-diffusion model and porous flow model
• Concentration polarization and membrane fouling
4. Membrane Separation Processes
• Microfiltration (MF) -Ultrafiltration (UF) -Nanofiltration (NF) -Reverse Osmosis
(RO)
• Electrodialysis - Pervaporation - Gas Permeation - Dialysis
5. Applications of Membrane Separation Processes
• Water treatment: desalination, wastewater treatment and water purification
• Petrochemical industry: gas separation and hydrocarbon processing
• Food & Beverage: Dairy Processing, Juice Clarification & Wine Production
• Pharmaceutical industry: protein separation, drug purification and bioprocesses
6. Practical Work on Adsorption and Membrane Separation
• Introduction to Adsorption Processes
• Adsorption Dynamics and Mass Transfer Zone (MTZ)
• Breakthrough Curves
• Adsorption models: Bohart-Adams, Thomas, Yoon-Nelson, Clark, DBST,
Wolborska
7. Design of Membrane Modules and Systems
• Module Selection and Configuration
 • Process Design Considerations
• Economic analysis of membrane processes
• Pilot Studies and Scaling
Teaching methodology
The course will use a variety of teaching methods to facilitate learning, including:
• Lectures (CM) to introduce theoretical concepts and principles.

• Tutorials for problem solving and application of concepts.

• Hands-on lab (TP) sessions to provide hands-on experience with membrane separation
equipment and techniques.
• Homework and Projects (TPE) to encourage independent learning and critical thinking.
• Case studies to illustrate the real-world applications of membrane technology.

Evaluation
 Continuous assessments: the continuous assessment sessions will last a maximum of two hours in person.
The CC score will count for 20%.

 Student personal work (TPE): it can be individual or in groups of a maximum of five students for a period
of 05 hours in the latter case. The TPE grade will count for 10%.

 Practical work (TP): The practical sessions will be graded and the final average grade will count for 20%.

 Comprehensive exam: the exam organized by the administration will last 02 hours. It will focus on the
concepts taught in the lecture, practical work, as well as exercises similar to those in the tutorial sheets. It
counts for 50% (for a UE with practical work).

Manual Requirements
Will be announced in class. A list of recommended readings will also be provided.
Recommended Reading
• Will be provided during the course.
1. J. R. Njimou*, F. N. Kouatchie, E. Njungab, A. Talla, Nkeng, G. Elambo (2019). "Treatment of Agro-
Food Wastewaters and Valuable Compounds Recovery by Column Sorption Runs" Sorption in 2020s,
George Kyzas and Nikolaos Lazaridis, IntechOpen, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.90087

2. J. R. Njimou*, J. Godwin, H. Pahimi, S. A. Maicaneanu*, F. Kouatchie Njeutcha, B. C. Tripathy, A.

Talla, T. Watanabe, Nkeng G. Elambo (2021) "Biocomposite spheres based on aluminum oxide dispersed
with orange-peel powder for adsorption of phenol from the batch membrane fraction of olive mill
wastewater" Colloids Interface Sci. Commun. 42: 100402. doi.org/10.1016/j.colcom.2021.100402
Course Policies
• Attendance is mandatory for all lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions.
• Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions and group activities.
• All assignments must be submitted on time. Late submissions will be penalized.
• Academic integrity is expected. Any form of plagiarism will result in a failing grade.
Tentative Timeline

Week Subject Activities

1 Introduction to Membrane Separation Processes CM

2 Materials and Structures of Membranes CM, TPE

3 Transport Phenomena in Membranes CM, TD

4 Microfiltration (MF) CM, TP

5 Ultrafiltration (UF) CM, TD,

6 Nanofiltration (NF) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) CM, TP

8 Electrodialysis Dialysis CM

11 Applications in Water Treatment CM, TPE

12 Applications in the Petrochemical and Food Industries CM, TD

13 Applications in the Pharmaceutical Industry CM, TP

14 Adsorption and Membrane Separation TP TPE

15 Design of Membrane Modules and Systems TP, TPE

Project Ideas (TPE)

Projects (TPE) for students as part of the GPC 458 course

1. Comparative study of the performance of different microfiltration membranes for the
clarification of local fruit juice.
• Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of various MF membranes in improving
the quality of locally produced fruit juice.
2. Design and optimization of an ultrafiltration system for small-scale domestic wastewater
treatment.
• Objective: To develop an affordable and efficient solution for wastewater treatment
in rural areas.
3. Evaluation of the impact of fouling on the performance of reverse osmosis membranes
used in seawater desalination.
• Objective: To study the mechanisms of fouling and propose strategies to minimize
their impact.
4. Feasibility study of the use of nanofiltration for the recovery of precious metals from mine
effluents.
• Objective: To determine the economic and environmental viability of using NF for
metal recovery.
5. Modeling and simulation of solute transport across a dialysis membrane for blood
purification.
• Objective: To improve the understanding of transport processes and optimize the
performance of hemodialysis.
6. Design of a gas permeation module for the separation of carbon dioxide from flue gases.
• Objective: To develop a technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from
power plants.
7. Synthesis and characterization of novel polymeric membranes for the separation of organic
mixtures by pervaporation.
• Objective: To explore new membrane materials for specific applications in the
chemical industry.
8. Comparative analysis of the costs and benefits of membrane processes compared to
conventional separation processes in the dairy industry.
• Objective: To evaluate the economic and energy efficiency of membranes in the
context of dairy processing.
9. Experimental study of the influence of operating parameters on the performance of an
electrodialysis system for the production of food-grade salt.
• Objective: To optimize operating conditions to improve the quality and profitability
of the salt production process.
10. Design of a hybrid system combining adsorption and membrane separation for the removal
of emerging pollutants in drinking water.
• Objective: To develop an innovative approach to address water pollution issues
related to contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides.