Theoretical and experimental desalination using ultrasound assisted PVDF membrane in direct contact membrane distillation

Abstract

Desalination by the direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) for prepared saline water and Ambazari lake water sample was investigated. The self-prepared ultrasound assisted polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane by wet phase inversion method exhibited effects on membrane contact angle, pore size, and porosity and investigated performance of DCMD. Membrane properties are characterized and employed in theoretical model with assumptions for water vapor transport in the transition region. It is observed that similar pattern obtained for permeate flux from experimental results and simulated results for transition region. Effects of operating parameter on permeate flux also simulated and compared with experimental data. For this work mathematical models developed and simulated in Polymath. PVDF membrane exhibited its characteristics like contact angle, pore size and flux enhancement may be due to ultrasound assisted polymer solution preparation for membrane casting.