Steady-state mass transfer and modelling in hollow fibre liquid membranes

A steady-state model is presented for a hollow fibre liquid membrane extrac tor which describes the mass transfer performance as a function of phase fl ows, geometry and system physical properties. The model is compared with th e experimental results for Cr(VI) extraction with a tertiary amine carrier. Shell side mass transfer correlations, developed primarily for gas-liquid membrane contactors, are also incorporated into the model and compared. Thi s model is subsequently used to optimise both operating and design paramete rs for maximum mass flux in hollow fibre liquid membranes. (C) 2001 Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.