posted on 2009-09-07, 14:55authored bySteve Tarleton, Jian-Shen Low
This paper describes some of the principal features of solvent resistant nanofiltration and its
potential in fuel processing. Experimental data for both fuel simulants and a petrol fuel are
presented. The solute rejection mechanism for low polarity mixtures was size exclusion with a
membrane cut-off in the region of 1-2 nm. The extent of solute rejection was dependent on the
degree of membrane crosslinking, the membrane swelling induced by the feed and the filtration
pressure. Nanofiltration experiments with the petrol fuel showed a good correlation with the data
obtained for the fuel simulants, both in terms of permeate flux and solute rejection. Provided that
higher polarity oxygenates were not present in the fuel, it was possible to remove undesirable polynuclear
aromatic and organometallic solutes to an extent that was sufficient to significantly reduce
valve deposits and emissions gases in engine tests.
History
School
Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering
Department
Chemical Engineering
Citation
TARLETON, E.S. and LOW, J.S., 2009. Nanofiltration: a method for improving the purity of fuels and non-aqueous solvents. Filtration, 9 (2), pp.138-141.
Publisher
Filtration Society
Version
AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Publication date
2009
Notes
This article was published in the journal, Filtration [Filtration Society] and the definitive version is available at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/cg/research/filtration/journal.htm