(401z) Mitigating Concentration Polarization for Enhanced Membrane-Based Silicone Oil Purification

Membrane-based liquid-phase separation techniques have been widely explored for the removal of low molecular weight compounds from complex mixtures due to their potential for energy efficiency and selective transport. In systems involving compositionally diverse feed solutions, flow configuration and transport mechanisms play a critical role in determining separation performance. We have successfully employed an energy-efficient membrane-based separation method to remove low molecular weight siloxanes from silicone oil using dual-layer hollow fiber membranes. However, during the separation process, accumulation at the membrane surfaces can lead to concentration polarization at both the upstream and downstream membrane faces. This phenomenon hinders mass transfer and reduces separation efficiency.

To address this issue, we systematically investigated and implemented innovative strategies to mitigate concentration polarization. Here we introduce a module with one-end fixed while the other end is free to move to mitigate the concentration polarization on the surface, the free-end fiber enables flexible movement of the fiber to disturb the concentration polarization layer formation. This approach demonstrated improved efficiency with improved flux, consistent with our expectation, this work contributes to increasing the technological value of membrane separation in various industrial conditions, reinforcing its feasibility for broader implementation in energy-efficient separation processes even in the presence of otherwise concentration polarization issues.