BIOCHEMISTRY, BIOPROCESS TECHNOLOGY
HUANG, Robert Y.M. (Editor)
PERVAPORATION MEMBRANE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
(Membrane Science and Technology Series, 1)
1991, XII + 549 pp., ISBN: 0-444-88227-8
ELSEVIER
Amsterdam Oxford New York Tokyo

The book is available from:
Elsevier Science, P.O.Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands, or
Elsevier Science Inc., P.O.Box 945, Madison Square Station, New York, NY 10160-0757, U.S.A
 

The book  “ Pervaporation Membrane Separation Processes” edited by R.Y.M. Huang , gathers the contributions of 23 specialists in the field of pervaporation , from : France, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands and Japan.
In  Chapter 1, Professor Jean Neel achieves an excelent introduction on the historical development, the concept, the mecanism and the engineering aspects of pervaporation.
R.Y.M.Huang and J.W.Rhim discusses , in the Chapter 2, the transport mechanisms of pervaporation processes,  define the separation characteristics of pervaporation membrane separation processes and  propose models for predicting the separation factors.
They estimate the effect of the process conditions and the  membrane material selection on the pervaporation.
The transport equations for pervaporation membranes, calculation of transport resistances, module optimization and plant design are presented by R.Rautenbach, C.Herion,  and U.Meyer-Blumenroth  in Chapter 3. 
The thermodynamic interaction between permeating components and polymer in membrane structure and its influence on the selective transport in pervaporation is approached by M.H.V. Mulder in Chapter 4.
G.H.Koops and C.A.Smolders descibe in the Chapter 5 the groups of polymers that have been used  for pervaporation and the polymer selection for optimizing flux and selectivity of pervaporation membranes.
In the Chapter 6, A. Heintz, H.Funke and  R.N. Lichtenthaler discuss the theory and the experimental methods for the determination of sorbtion and diffusion in pervaporation membranes.

The design and testing of novel copolymer membranes with fixed carrier for pervaporation are presented in the Chapter 7, by T.Shimidzu and M.Yoshikawa. In Chapter 8, the use of pervaporation in bioreaction and downstream processing is discussed by  H. Strathmann and W. Gudernatsch, using the example of removal and concentration of ethanol from a fermentation broth, by 
 oupling a pervaporation unit to a bioreactor.
Recent progress in water/ethanol pervaporation separation membranes are discussed in the Chapter 9 by  Y. Maeda and M. Kai.
The removal of organics from water by pervaporation is the subject matter of  Chapter 10, elaborated by K.W. Boddeker and G. Bengtson.
In Chapter 11, T.Hirotsu presents the possibility of the preparation of pervaporation membranes by plasma graft polymerization.
T.Asada presents in Chapter 12 pervaporation membrane plant, industrial experience and plant design in Japan.
In Chapter 13, U.H.F. Sander reports on the first comercial-scale vapour permeation plant and gives a review of other potential industrial applications of vapour permeation.
All in all, the volume provides informations on the most recent aspects characterizing pervaporation, being recommended to the students, engineers, researchers and teachers involved in membrane separation processes.
 

Assist. Prof. Alehandru SAVIN, Ph. D.
HSIEH, H.P.
Inorganic Membranes for Separation and Reaction
(Membrane Science and Technology , 3)
1996, XVII + 610 pp, ISBN: 0-444-8167-1
ELSEVIER SCIENCE
Amsterdam -Lausanne- New York - Oxford - Shannon - Tokyo
The book is available from:
Elsevier Science, P.O.Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands, or
Elsevier Science Inc., P.O.Box 945, Madison Square Station, New York, NY 10160-0757, U.S.A
 

The book “Inorganic membranes for separation and reaction” written by A.P.HSIEH, provides the essential data and background materials on various aspects of inorganic membranes.
Chapter 1, is a brief introduction to some advantages of inorganic membranes; it contains generalities on current status of membrane technology and a comparison of organic and inorganic membranes.
The historical developments, types of inorganic membranes and preparations methods are discussed in Chapter 2 and 3, respectively; dense inorganic membranes, tortuous-pore membranes, nearly straight-pore membranes and surface-modified membranes.
The Chapter 4 reviews the separation and non-separation properties of the inorganic membranes (microstructure, transport mechanisms, separation properties, thermal, hydrothermal and chemical stability surface properties) and the methods by which they are measured.
In Chapter 5, the properties related to membrane performance during applications and general features of membrane elements, modules and systems are discussed along with design and operating considerations (transmembrane pressure, feed pretreatment, membrane cleaning).

The applications of inorganic membranes for the liquid-phase separation are presented in Chapter 6; food processing, filtration of fermentation broth, waste oil treatment, petroleum residues processing, wastewater treatment in textile industry and paper and pulp processing.
Gas separation and other applications of inorganic membranes, such as sensors and supports for liquid membranes are discussed in Chapter 7.
The chapters 8 to 11 are devoted to the review of the various aspects of inorganic membrane reactors: applications, material, catalytic and engineering issues.
Economic aspects as well as major 
 technical hurdles to be resolved prior to widespread usage of inorganic membranes are summarized in Chapter 12.
This book should be a valuable resource for those working within the field of inorganic membranes for  separations and reactions in organic and inorganic technologies.
 

Assist. Prof. Alexandru  SAVIN, Ph. D.