INFLUENCE OF NERNST-PLANCK DIFFUSION ON HOLLOW-FIBER MASS-TRANSFER PROCESSES

Hollow-fiber membrane reactive extraction and facilitated supported li quid membrane processes for the separation of charged species are anal yzed theoretically. A mathematical model incorporating laminar flow, N ernst-Planck diffusion, buffer effect, ion strength, interfacial react ion kinetics and/or equilibria, diffusivity of species in the membrane phase, shell resistances, and shell concentration is developed and so lved numerically. When the lumen mass-transfer resistance is dominant, the predicted removal rate of a single ion or the separation rare of a mixture of ions by a simplified model with Fickian diffusion deviate s greatly from the prediction with the present model. For instance, wh en the concentration of trivalent ions in the feed decreases to half o f ifs initial value, the membrane length calculated using Fickian diff usion is 75% higher than the length predicted by Nernst-Planck diffusi on. Thus, the Leveque equation based on Fick's law does not adequately describe the mass transfer of the charged species in the lumen feed. The effect of buffer ions and diffusivity of species in the membrane p hase on the mass transfer of the species is also discussed.