This work concerns the preparation of a mineral membrane by the slip casting method based on zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and kaolin. The membrane support is produced from a mixture of clay (kaolin) and calcium carbonate (calcite) powders using heat treatment (sintering). Membrane and support characterization were performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Raman Spectroscopy. The prepared mineral membrane was tested to treat drinking water obtained from different zones of the El Athmania (Algeria) water station (raw, coagulated, decanted, and bio filtered water). Experimental parameters such as permeate flux, turbidity, and total coliforms were monitored. The results showed that the mineral membrane was mainly composed of SiO2 and Al2O3 and the outer surface, which represented the membrane support, was much more porous than the inner surface where the membrane was deposited. The permeate flux of the raw water decreased with filtration time, due to a rejection of the organic matters contained in the raw water. Moreover, the absence of total coliforms in the filtrate and the increase in concentration in the concentrate indicate that the prepared mineral membrane can be used for drinking water treatment.

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Mathematical modeling of an ultrafiltration membrane separation process, based mainly on the transmembrane pressure (TMP), is undertaken in the present work. The main objective is the prediction of the permeate flux of a solution containing Dextran T500 through a cylindrical module. The proposed model incorporates the resistance-in-series model coupled with the equation describing the solute (Dextran T500) transport, as well as the continuity and Navier-Stokes equations for solution flow modeling. The model equations are solved using finite-volume numerical methods, with appropriate initial and boundary conditions. The effects of the TMP and the length of the membrane on the mean permeate flux were also investigated. The influence of the membrane dimensions (aspect ratio) on the relative dimensionless mean permeate flux, at different inlet TMPs and different solution concentrations, respectively, have also been considered. The variations of the TMP with the membrane length as well as the influence of the Peclet number on the solute surface concentration were also examined. The numerical results obtained are compared with experimental values reported in the literature, and in general, the agreement is satisfactory enough to encourage further refinement of the model.

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a b s t r a c tThe main objective in this study was to optimize the removal of a dispersed azo dye (Red Terasil) widely used in the textile industry, combining coagulation and microfiltration processes. The purpose of coagulation was to destabilize and aggregate the suspended matter mainly responsible for the coloration of the solution. The study was completed by a simulation of the process using the SuperPro Designer software (SD) (Version 9) followed by a comparison of the obtained results with the corresponding experimental values. A priori the experimental part consisted of determining the optimal coagulation conditions on a Jar-test, namely the coagulant dose and pH of the solution. The resulting solution from the coagulation process was used as a feed to the microfiltration pilot where the variation with time of several parameters such as the dye concentration, the turbidity of the permeate and the concentrate solutions, the permeate flux and the transmembrane pressure (TMP) were followed, determining also the membrane rejection coefficient. SuperPro Designer software (SD) was used to simulate the combination coagulation-microfiltration process, the monitored parameters with filtration time, in this part, were the dye concentration in the permeate and the concentrate and the permeate flux. The obtained results showed that the coagulation-microfiltration process was very effective in eliminating the dye with a considerable concentration decrease, an important reduction of the turbidity of the solution in the permeate, a reduction of its flux and the membrane rejection coefficient exceeding 98%. The results calculated by SD were in quite good agreement with the experimental results.