Uni

vers

ität S

tuttg

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Institut für Chemische Verfahrenstechnik

50 Years of Membrane Research and Development

H. Strathmann

Institut für Chemische Verfahrenstechnik, Universität Stuttgart, Böblingerstr. 72, 70199 Stuttgart

Berghof Innovation Day 2016

■ Introduction and Definition of Terms ■ Visions and Innovations in Membrane Science ■ Successful Membrane Applications ■ Future Development and Research Needs

Scope of Presentation

2

What is a membrane and how does it work?

3

Definition and Function of a Membrane

4

Visions and dreams: ■ Energy and cost efficient water desalination using synthetic membranes „ Make the deserts green“ ■ Artificial organs using synthetic membranes „Artificial kindney“

Studies of biological membranes and their function stimulate the development of synthetic membranes with similar efficient mass transport properties

Visions and Dreams in Membrane Science The beginning

5

Key developments and innovations in membrane science and technology were generated mostly by dedicated and visionary persons in small companies

Amicon Corporation, Cambridge, USA Prof. A.S. Michaels Focus on: Membrane with specific separation properties for low molecular mixtures, reverse osmosis water desalination and ultrafiltration Forschungsinstitut Berghof, Tübingen Prof. G. Zundel Focus on: Membrane with different separation properties from different polymers with applications as artificial kidney and in the recycling of industrial waste water

Innovations in Membranes Technology

Amicon highlights

highlights three component phase diagram

Industrial production of membranes for applications in analytical laboratories and the food and drug industry

Berghof p o l y m e r

s o l v e n t m i x t u r e n o n - s o l v e n t

c a s t i n g s o l u t i o n

v i t r i f i c a t i o n p o i n t

t i e l i n e ( s o l i d u s c o n o d e )

l i q u i d p h a s e m i s c i b i l i t y g a p

s o l i d m e m b r a n e s t r u c t u r e

m e m b r a n e c o m p o s i t i o n

b i n o d a l e

c r i t i c a l p o i n t

s p i n o d

A B

D '

B "

B '

D

polymer solvent

film casting

non-solvent

Polymer membrane Key innovation: The phase inversion process

Key Innovations in Membranes Technology

The Development of an Artificial Kidney

Joined research program of Berghof, Tübingen, Katharinenhospital, Stuttgart, and Weizman Institute, Israel, 1972-75 First animal tests, Katharinenhospital, Stuttgart, 1974

8

Successful Applications of Membrane Technology

and today Membrane surface ca. 1 m2 Volume ca. 0.15 liter Treatment time ca. 3 h Cost < 15 US $

Membrane surface ca. 1 m2 Volume ca. 4-6 liter Treatment time ca. 7 h

Development of the artificial kidney First successful kidney 1945

ca. 2 Million patients with average life expectancy of ca. 18 years treated 3 times per week (ca. 300 Million dialysers per year)

Key innovation: Interfacial polymerization Membrane

Reverse osmosis water desalination First successful RO-membrane are based on a cellulose acetate film 1965

and today

Salt retention >80% Water flux >0.4 m3 m-2

Key innovation: Berghof hollow fiber membrane and module concept

Salt retention >96% Water flux >1 m3 m-2

>20 Million m3 d-1 potable water from the sea at costs of ca. 0.5 € m-3

9

Future Research and Innovation Needs

Energy conversion and storage

++++++++++++

++++++++++++

___________

_

H2O H2O

OH¯ H+

NaCl

HClNaOH

Cl̄

NaCl

e¯

Repeating cell unit

Electrode Electrode

___________

_

Na+

e¯ e¯

Membrane

BipolarMembrane

Membrane

++++++++++++

Cl̄NaOH HCl

Safe and efficient fuel cells and flow batteries

10

Future Research and Innovation Needs

Biofunctional membranes for artificial organs

Immuno-isolation of drug producing cell tissues

11

Conclusions

Innovations are the key to progress in membrane science and technology and are needed for

■ The development of membranes with specific mass transport properties ■ The development of new membrane processes ■ Application oriented membrane modules and operation concepts