Principles of Membrane Processes in Liquid Separation: Theories, Models, and Quantitative Analysis

Principles of Membrane Processes in Liquid Separation fills a gap in membrane science by focusing on fundamental principles rather than materials or applications. It covers three key areas: the fundamentals of retained particles and their impacts in membrane processes, state equation and generic cost model for reverse osmosis desalination modeling and optimization, and mechanisms of water and ion transport across membranes. The text provides theoretical foundations while offering practical insights for improved membrane process design and operation, serving both as an educational resource for students and a reference for engineering professionals.

• Addresses fundamental principles of membrane processes in liquid separation rather than materials or fabrication methods.
• Provides advanced modeling approaches and optimization techniques for reverse osmosis desalination that enable more efficient process design and operation.
• Resolves longstanding conceptual challenges in membrane science, including proper characterization of concentration polarization and improved boundary conditions for ion transport equations.

1. Introduction Part I Fundamentals of Retained Particles 2. Roles of Retained Particles 3. Concentration Polarization 4. Cake Formation Part II Reverse Osmosis Desalination 5. Performance of Reverse Osmosis Desalination Processes 6. Process Optimization 7. Concentration Polarization Assessment 8. Membrane Fouling Part III Membrane Transport Phenomena 9. Water Transport Through Membranes 10. Salinity Energy Harvest with Osmotic Membranes 11. Solute Transport Across Membrane

Dr. Lianfa Song received his BS and MS degrees from Peking University, China, in 1982 and 1984, respectively. He went to the United States to study for his PhD degree in UCLA in 1990 and obtained his degree in March 1993. After two and a half years as a postdoctoral research associate at UCLA and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, he worked as an assistant professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in 1996 and as an associate professor in 2002 at National University of Singapore (NUS). He became an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas Tech University in September 2007 and was promoted to full professor in 2013. Dr. Song’s main research interests include membrane processes, colloidal phenomena, and modeling and optimization of environmental engineering systems. In the last few years, his research has focused on reverse osmosis (RO) processes on water treatment and reclamation. He has developed new concepts and models for the performance of full-scale RO processes in order to improve process efficiency holistically. His works in the membrane field have been well received and recognized by the membrane community. He is a member of the North American Membrane Society and the International Water Association.