Osmotic dehydration coupled reverse osmosis concentration: steady-state model and assessment

A steady-state analysis was made for evaluating the RO concentration of sug ar solutions assisted by flowing a brine solution in counter-current mode t hrough the permeate side. Calculations show that membrane area requirements for high solute concentrations could be reduced by combining RO with osmot ic dehydration. The area requirements are sensitive to salt concentration p olarization on the permeate side, particularly when low feed pressures are used. It appears feasible to design membranes/modules with low enough value s of permeate side concentration polarization to enable effective feed solu tion concentration (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.