Membrane Separation and Liquid Extraction Processes

This course focuses on membrane separation processes and liquid-liquid extraction. The section on membrane separation processes will first cover conventional liquid-phase separation processes (microfiltration, ultrafiltration, etc.) and gas treatment. More innovative processes, such as membrane contactors and membrane reactors, will be covered in a second section. The section on liquid-liquid extraction processes will begin with a general overview, which will then provide the foundation for understanding the PUREX process used in spent fuel reprocessing. A final section will cover methods for modeling liquid-liquid extraction operations.

Hourly volumes*:

            CM: 12:00 p.m.

            TD: 8:00 a.m.

The objective of this course is to provide knowledge about membrane separation processes, beginning with conventional processes and then moving on to more innovative processes such as membrane contactors and membrane reactors. The second part of this course focuses on liquid-liquid extraction separation processes.

Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Liquid-Liquid Extraction

Terminal Control

1. Membrane separation processes:

• Introduction to Membrane Function
• Traditional methods:
• Liquid-phase separation: microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO)
• Different filtration methods
• Electrical Effects and Their Role in Nanofiltration
• Pervaporation
• Membrane Gas Treatment
• Membrane contactors and reactors:
• Diaphragm Contactors: “A New Philosophy”
• Membrane Chemical Reactors
• Membrane Bioreactors

1. Liquid-liquid extraction processes:

• General Information:
• Principles and Objectives of L/L Extraction
• Different Types of Solvents
• Essential Dimensions for L/L Extraction
• Equilibrium and the Representation of Equilibrium
• Successive operations with co-current, cross-current, and counter-current flows
• Different Types of Devices
• Example of the PUREX process:
• Industrial Constraints
• Selection of Solvents and Equipment
• Key Steps in the Purification of U and Pu by Liquid-Liquid Extraction
• Modeling of L/L Extraction Operations: 
• McCabe and Thiele's Solution Methods. Performance Limits
• The PAREX code. Phenomenological analysis. Modeling of elementary phenomena. Numerical solution. Code validation. Applications

Administrative contact(s): Chemistry Master's Program Office

Master's in Chemistry @ umontpellier.fr