SUPER-HYDROPHOBIC NANO-POROUS/MICRO-POROUS COMPOSITE MEMBRANES FOR MEMBRANE DISTILLATION OPERATING AT LOW INLET FEED TEMPERATURES WITH LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION

摘要

A mathematical model was developed to lead to the design of a novel membrane, which can operate in membrane distillation at a small trans-membrane temperature gradient, including at low feed water temperature range. The novel membrane design can be described as a super-hydrophobic nano- porous/micro-porous composite membrane. This membrane will significantly decrease the energy requirements of the MD process since it can operate at very low inlet feed temperatures.