Separation and Purification Reviews 

About: Separation and Purification Reviews is an academic journal published by Taylor & Francis. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Membrane & Gas separation. It has an ISSN identifier of 1542-2119. Over the lifetime, 263 publications have been published receiving 12247 citations.

Membrane Distillation and Related Operations—A Review

Abstract: Membrane contactors represent an emerging technology in which the membrane is used as a tool for inter phase mass transfer operations: the membrane does not act as a selective barrier, but the separation is based on the phase equilibrium. In principle, all traditional stripping, scrubbing, absorption, evaporation, distillation, crystallization, emulsification, liquid‐liquid extraction, and mass transfer catalysis processes can be carried out according to this configuration. This review, specifically addressed to membrane distillation (MD), osmotic distillation (OD), and membrane crystallization (MCr), illustrates the fundamental concepts related to heat and mass transport phenomena through microporous membranes, appropriate membrane properties, and module design criteria. The most significant applications of these novel membrane operations, concerning pure/fresh water production, wastewater treatment, concentration of agro food solutions, and concentration/crystallization of organic and biologica...

Extractive Distillation: A Review

Abstract: Extractive distillation is more and more commonly applied in industry, and becomes an important separation method in chemical engineering. This paper provides an in‐depth review for extractive distillation. Separation sequence of the columns, combination with other separation processes, tray configuration and operation policy are included in process of extractive distillation. Since the solvent plays an important role in the design of extractive distillation, such conventional and novel separating agents as solid salt, liquid solvent, the combination of liquid solvent and solid salt, and ionic liquid are concerned. The prominent characteristics of extractive distillation is that one new solvent with high boiling‐point, i.e. separating agent, is added to the components to be separated, so as to increase their relative volatility. Selection of a suitable solvent is fundamental to ensure an effective and economical design. CAMD as a useful tool is applied for screening the solvents and thus reducing the expe...

Extraction of Bio-oils from Microalgae

Abstract: A wide variety of terrestrial biomass feed stocks have been identified as suitable candidates for fractionation and conversion into biofuels. In particular, microalgae have been promoted as a future source of transportation fuels primarily because of their stated potential to produce up to 10 times more oil per acre than traditional biofuel crops. Their ability to grow relatively fast, be harvested on a daily basis, and grown in earthen ponds or closed photobioreactors that occupy marginal or poor crop lands using salt or brackish water, are often referenced. When these attractive traits are coupled with the potential to concomitantly harvest valuable co‐products such as biopolymers, proteins, and animal feeds, one can see why microalgae are often touted as biotechnology's “green gold”. The development of large‐scale microalgae farms, however, has been slowed by limitations in downstream processing technology. For example, traditional methods to dewater, extract, and recover bio‐oil from oil‐seeds possess...

The Quest for Active Carbon Adsorbent Substitutes: Inexpensive Adsorbents for Toxic Metal Ions Removal from Wastewater

Abstract: Due to overgrowth in population, industrialization and civilization, demands for water are increasing geometrically. Therefore, alternative sources of water are required and wastewater treatment and recycling may serve this purpose. Among various water treatment technologies, adsorption onto activated carbon is in the front line due to its universal nature. Activated carbon is the best adsorbent able to capture inorganic, as well as organic, pollutants that contaminate water resources. Inorganic pollutants, especially metal ions, are more dangerous due to their toxic and possibly carcinogenic natures. Also they are most often persistent and difficult to biodegrade. The present article describes the quest to find an economically viable substitute to active carbon adsorbent to remove toxic metal ions. A brief discussion of design of batch and column adsorption experiments, development of inexpensive adsorbents, and experimental conditions of metal ions removal by batch and column procedures is included. Eff...

Water Treatment by Adsorption Columns: Evaluation at Ground Level

Abstract: Water is the most important and essential component of earth's ecosystem, playing a vital role in the proper functioning of flora and fauna. But water resources are contaminating continuously. The whole world may be in great water scarcity in the coming few decades. Among many water treatment methods, adsorption is considered to be one of the best. Many articles describe adsorption applications for water treatment in batch mode. Only few works report laboratory, pilot and commercial applications of adsorption technology. This review is a critical evaluation of the contribution of adsorption technology at laboratory, pilot and process scales. Water treatment, through column operations, has been divided into two parts: removal of (i) inorganic and (ii) organic pollutants. Attempts have been made to evaluate the application of adsorption columns at the ground level. Besides, efforts have also been made to emphasize the importance of adsorption columns at commercial levels to tackle water treatment problems i...