Membrane separation and liquid extraction processes

This teaching unit focuses on membrane separation and liquid-liquid extraction processes. The section on membrane separation processes will deal first with classic liquid phase separation processes (microfiltration, ultrafiltration, etc.) and gas treatment. More innovative processes, such as membrane contactors and reactors, will be covered in a second section. The section on liquid-liquid extraction processes begins with a general overview, and then moves on to the PUREX process for reprocessing spent fuel. A final section will deal with methods for modeling liquid-liquid extraction operations.

Hourly volumes* :

            CM: 12h

            TD : 8h

The aim of this teaching unit is to provide an understanding of membrane separation processes, starting with classic processes and then moving on to more innovative processes such as contactors and membrane reactors. The second part of the course covers liquid-liquid extraction separation processes.

Kinetics and thermodynamics of liquid-liquid extraction

Final inspection

1. Membrane separation processes :

• Introduction to membrane function
• Classic processes :
• Liquid phase separation: microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO)
• Different filtration modes
• Electrical effects and their role in nanofiltration
• Pervaporation
• Membrane gas treatment
• Contactors and membrane reactors :
• Membrane contactors: "a new philosophy
• Membrane chemical reactors
• Biological membrane reactors

1. Liquid-liquid extraction processes :

• General information :
• Principle and objectives of L/L extraction
• Different types of solvents
• Essential sizes for L/L extraction
• Balances and balance representation
• Successive co-current, cross-current and counter-current operations
• Different device types
• Example of the PUREX process:
• Industrial constraints
• Choice of solvent and equipment
• Main steps in the purification of U and Pu by L/L extraction
• Modeling L/L extraction operations : 
• McCabe and Thiele resolution methods. Performance limits
• The PAREX code. Phenomenological analysis. Modeling of elementary phenomena. Numerical resolution. Code qualification. Applications

Administrative contact(s): Master of Chemistry secretariat

master-chimie @ umontpellier.fr (master-chimie @ umontpellier.fr)