Sains Malaysiana 42(2)(2013): 159–166

Rejection of Oil Emulsion using Tubular Surface Filters

(Penyingkiran Emulsi Minyak dengan Penuras Permukaan Tiub)

Muhammad Abbas Ahmad Zaini*

Centre of Lipids Engineering & Applied Research, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

Iain W. Cumming & Richard G. Holdich

Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University

LE11 3TU, United Kingdom

Received: 3 June 2011 / Accepted: 1 September 2012

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed to characterize the rejection of oil emulsion by two tubular surface filters, namely 13 μm slots and 4 μm circular pores. A 17 mm helix was incorporated inside the filters to increase the wall shear stress. Rejection of oil, throughputs and flux decay were measured at varying shear stresses (Rw) and transmembrane pressures (TMP). The results showed that the13 μm slots produced a fairly good oil rejection of 22 μm at Rw=0.26 Pa and TMP=6.9 kPa, while the circular pores gave the rejection of 14.4 μm at Rw=0.21 Pa and TMP=34.5 kPa. The results suggested that the circular pores filter could achieve a better oil retention under lower TMP, while the slots filter could be satisfactorily operated under moderate shear stress and low TMP. The increase of TMP offered poor oil rejection by both filters and this was also true for slots-helix configuration.

Keywords: Helical insert; microfiltration; oil emulsion; rejection; surface filter

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mencirikan penyingkiran emulsi minyak oleh dua penuras permukaan tiub, iaitu 13 μm bukaan celah dan 4 μm bukaan lingkar. Tekanan ricih dinding ditingkatkan dengan menggabungkan 17 mm pilin ke dalam penuras. Penyingkiran minyak, hasil turasan dan kegagalan fluk telah diukur pada tegasan ricih (Rw) dan tekanan transmembran (TMP) yang berbeza. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa 13 μm bukaan celah menghasilkan penyingkiran minyak yang agak baik iaitu 22 μm pada Rw=0.26 Pa dan TMP=6.9 kPa, manakala bukaan lingkar memberikan penyingkiran 14.4 μm pada Rw=0.21 Pa dan TMP=34.5 kPa. Hasil kajian mencadangkan bahawa penuras bukaan lingkar boleh mencapai penahanan minyak lebih baik di bawah TMP yang lebih rendah, manakala penuras bukaan celah boleh dikendalikan dengan sempurna di bawah tegasan ricih sederhana dan TMP yang rendah. Peningkatan TMP memberikan penyingkiran minyak yang rendah bagi kedua-dua penuras dan begitu juga dengan penurasan bukaan celah-pilin.

Kata kunci: Emulsi minyak; penurasan mikro; penuras permukaan; penyingkiran; pilin masukan

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*Corresponding author; email: abbas@cheme.utm.my