Optimal operation of selective membrane separation processes for wastewater treatment

The objective of this work is to identify and select optimally the main ope rating conditions of selective membrane separation processes for wastewater treatment. The advantage of this technology is that it reduces the amount of metals disposed into the environment, by removing them from wastewater a nd concentrating them simultaneously in the stripping stream for re-use in the plant that generates the effluent. The operating conditions are evaluat ed solving an optimisation problem, where the set of algebraic and differen tial equations that represent the component mass balances are formulated as equality constraints, together with the separation objectives that are pos ed as inequality end point constraints. The optimisation leads to significa nt improvements in terms of the flow rate of the effluent treated, showing the potential of the methodology presented. Insight on the dynamic behaviou r of the selective membrane separation processes is gained through the sens itivity analysis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.