Pressure-driven membrane processes

The chapter describes the common fundamentals of different membrane processes . In the first part the main terms used in membrane processes such as membrane permeability, membrane permselectivity, selectivity and membrane rejection are defined. The basic thermodynamic relations relevant for the description of mass transport phenomena in membranes and membrane processes are treated and the mathematical relations used to describe the mass transport in membranes are discussed. In the second part, fundamental aspects of pressure driven membrane processes, including transport mechanisms, polarization phenomena, fouling/biofouling/scaling problems, are discussed. The technical advantages and limitations of the various processes are also pointed out.