Membrane distillation - Examples of applications in technology and environmental protection

This paper presents membrane distillation (MD), a separation process based on evaporation through pores of a hydrophobic membrane. Different configura tions of the process were considered. Membrane properties, transport phenom ena through the membranes, and module designs have been discussed. Applicat ions of MD in water and wastewater treatment as well as in the food industr y have been presented. The concentration of sulfuric acid solution obtained after extraction of apatite phosphogypsum by MD, in order to recover lanth ane compounds has been presented. The possibility of recovery of HCl from m etal pickling solutions by MD has been shown.