NanoMembrane

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NanoMembrane – Nanoporous ceramic membranes for use in sustainable closed-cycle water- and solvent-saving methods


Within the NanoMembrane project, new ceramic nanofiltration membranes (NF) with reduced cut-offs and improved chemical stability were developed and tested in different applications. Whereas such testing served to check on the membranes’ stability and separation performance under conditions of use, it also provided clear definitions of the requirements to be met by membranes and hence contributed directly to optimising separation properties during development. The scientific/technical objectives comprised:

    • Development of nanofiltration membranes with cut-offs of 200g/mol
    • Development of pH-stable nanofiltration membranes
    • Development of organophilic nanofiltration membranes
    • Setup and adaptation of test facilities
    • Laboratory and pilot tests with solvents and sewage from the chemical, textile, metal and paper industries
    • Life cycle assessment/integrated life cycle assessment

Within the NanoMembrane project, ceramic nanofiltration membranes with cut-offs of approximately 200g/mol were synthesised for the first time at a specific water flow of 9 l/(m2•h•bar). The systematic assessment of the pH stability was carried out with two hours of filtration with hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide followed by a subsequent rinsing with water and determination of the retention with PEG-200 and revealed a stability of the NF-membranes in HCl of up to 2mol/l (7.2%) at 25°C and in NaOH of up to 4mol/l (16%) at 60°C. In organic solvent, the investigated NF-membranes, depending on the type of solvent used, showed very different, not yet describable behaviours. The best retentions were found to be achieved in THF with a cut-off of 350g/mol at a specific flow of 3,5 l/(m2•h•bar).

The fabrication of the novel ceramic NF-membranes was transferred from the laboratory (0.0055m2) to the technical scale (0.25m2). Ten different laboratory facilities and pilot plants for membrane characterisation and testing were used within the project. Besides, a filtration test plant for organic solvents was developed, set up and then used by Merck for pilot tests after approval by a relevant authority.

Application tests in the chemical, metalworking, textile finishing as well as paper and pulp industries confirmed the improved retention of dissolved molecules, dyes, surface-active agents, and multivalent salts as compared to previously used commercial membranes. The studies revealed approaches to an efficient and cost-effective use of membranes during the treatment of rinsing baths for cleaning metal parts and during preparation of bleaching solutions from pulp production.

Within integrated life cycle assessment, the use of ceramic nanofiltration membranes for treatment of liquid wastes or sewage proved to be of ecological benefit. Analysing concrete examples and attempting to generalise the different statements, basic know-how has been created which in the future will enable to draw up company- and application-specific life cycle assessments for use of ceramic nanofiltration membranes.

Grant Number: BMBF - FKZ 03X0080
Duration: 01.05.2010 - 30.04.2013

Project Lead

Merck Logo
Dr.- Ing. Uwe Kätzel,Merck KGaA

Project Partners

Merck KGaA
Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS)
Rauschert Kloster Veilsdorf GmbH
Fa. Andreas Junghans
Benseler Sachsen GmbH & Co. KG
Color Textil Veredelung Peppermint Holding GmbH
PTS Papiertechnische Stiftung
Koehler Paper Group
University of Stuttgart, Life Cycle Engineering

Publications

2014

  • Zeidler S., Puhlfuerss P., Kaetzel U., Voigt I. (2014). Preparation and characterization of new low MWCO ceramic nanofiltration membranes for organic solvents. J Membrane Sci, 470(0): 421-430.

2012

  • Duscher, S., K. Herrmann, M. Weyd, I. Voigt (2012). Wirtschaftlicher Einsatz keramischer Membranen zur integrierten Prozesswasserbewirtschaftung - Fallbeispiele. Chem Ing Tech 84(7): 1018-1025.

All available final scientific reports of the NanoMembrane consortium can be accessed via the TIB Hannover website https://www.tib.eu/en/  
  • Projekt-Konsortium NanoMembrane (2013). NanoMembrane-Nanoporoese keramische Membranen zur nachhaltigen Wasser- und Loesemitteleinsparung durch Kreislaufschließung : Abschlussbericht ; Laufzeit: 01.05.2010-30.04.2013; Kaetzel U., Merck KGaA ; FKZ 03X0080 A-L; TIB Hannover.
  • Color Textil Veredelung Peppermint Holding GmbH (2012). NanoMembrane - Nanoporoese keramische Membranen zur nachhaltigen Wasser- und Loesemitteleinsparung durch Kreislaufschließung : Abschlussbericht; Color-Textil Veredelung Peppermint Holding GmbH; FKZ 03X0080 G; TIB Hannover.

2013

  • Voigt I. (2013). Ceramic membranes and systems for energy and environmental technology. CICC-8, 4-7 Nov. 2013, Chongqing, China. [VORTRAG]
  • Voigt I., H. Richter, M. Weyd, V. Prehn (2013). Ceramic nanofiltration membranes -Examples of application and new developments. 10. Aachener Tagung Wasser und Membranen, 29-30 Okt. 2013, Aachen, Deutschland. [VORTRAG]
  • Voigt I. (2013). Ceramic membranes: From macropores to nanopores for efficient energy conversion. GIGA 2013 Academic Workshops, 16-19 Sep. 2013, New Delhi, Indien. [VORTRAG]
  • Voigt I., P. Puhlfuerss, H. Richter, S. Zeidler, U. Kätzel (2013). Low cut-off ceramic NF-membranes for organic solvents. 4th International Conference on Organic Solvent Nanofiltration, 12-14 März 2013, Aachen, Deutschland. [VORTRAG]
  • Voigt I., H. Richter, M. Weyd (2013). Ceramic membranes for water purification, product cleaning and solvent recovery. 7th International Workshop on Crystallization, Filtration, Drying & Milling, 21-23 Feb. 2013, Mumbai, Indien. [VORTRAG]
  • Zeidler S., U. Kätzel, F. Aguilar (2013). Einsatz von nanoporösen Keramikmembranen zum Recycling von Lösemittelströmen. 3. Clustertreffen NanoNature/NanoCare, 14 Jan. 2013, Frankfurt/Main, Deutschland. [POSTER]

2012

  • Kätzel U. (2012). NanoMembrane: Einsatz neuer nanoporöser keramischer Membranen zur Wasser- und Lösemitteleinsparung. Branchendialog – Nanotechnologie und neue Materialien für mehr Ressourceneffizienz, 6 Dez. 2012, Berlin, Deutschland. [VORTRAG]
  • Zeidler S., Puhlfuerss P., U. Kätzel, I. Voigt (2012). New ceramic membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration with a molecular weight cut-off < 500 Da. EUROMEMBRANE 2012, 23-27 Sep. 2012, London, UK. [VORTRAG]
  • Voigt I., P. Puhlfuerss, H. Richter, A. Endter, St. Duscher, K. Herrmann (2012). Ceramic NF- membranes with a cut-off of 200 Da. 12th Inter. Conf. Inorg. Membr., 9-13 July 2012, Enschede, Holland. [VORTRAG]
  • Voigt I. (2012). Anorganische Membranen für die Flüssigfiltration und Gastrennung. 13. Wörlitzer Workshop, 4 Juli 2012, Woerlitz, Deutschland. [VORTRAG]
  • Voigt I., P. Puhlfuerss, K. Herrmann, St. Duscher, H. Richter (2012). New ceramic nanofiltration membranes with a cut-off below 450 D. Achema, 18-22 Juni 2012, Frankfurt/Main, Deutschland. [VORTRAG]
  • Zeidler S., U, Kätzel, P. Kreis (2012). Practical aspects in applying organic solvent nanofiltration in specialty chemicals production. Achema, 18-22 Juni 2012, Frankfurt/Main, Deutschland. [VORTRAG]
  • Prehn V., M. Schulze, K. Herrmann, D. Sittig (2012). Ceramic nanofiltration membranes - state of the art and examples of application. Achema, 18-22 Juni 2012, Frankfurt/Main, Deutschland. [VORTRAG]
  • Stobbe A. (2012). Process engineering to apply ceramic nanofiltration membranes. Achema, 18-22 Juni 2012, Frankfurt/Main, Deutschland. [VORTRAG]
  • Aguilar F., U. Kätzel, S. Zeidler (2012). NanoMembrane: Einsatz neuer nanoporöser keramischer Membra¬nen zur Wasser- und Lösemitteleinsparung. 2. Clustertreffen NanoNature/NanoCare, 13-14 März 2012, Frankfurt/Main, Deutschland. [VORTRAG]
  • Aguilar F., U. Kätzel, S. Zeidler (2012). NanoMembrane: Einsatz neuer nanoporöser keramischer Membranen zur Wasser- und Lösemitteleinsparung. 2. Clustertreffen NanoNature/NanoCare, 13-14 März 2012, Frankfurt/Main, Deutschland. [VORTRAG]
  • Zeidler S., U. Kätzel, F. Aguilar (2012). Einsatz von nanoporösen Keramikmembranen zum Recycling von Lösemittelströmen. 2. Clustertreffen NanoNature/NanoCare, 13-14 März 2012, Frankfurt/Main, Deutschland. [POSTER]

2011

  • Kätzel U. (2011). Nanoporöse keramische Membranen zur nachhaltigen Wasser- und Lösemitteleinsparung durch Kreislaufschließung. WING.DE Konferenz, 4-6 Okt. 2011, Berlin, Deutschland. [POSTER]
  • Voigt I., Richter H., R. Kriegel, M. Weyd (2011). Innovations in ceramic membranes. 8th European Congress on Chemical Engineering (ECCE), 25-29 Sep. 2011, Berlin, Deutschland. [VORTRAG]
  • Voigt I. (2011). Development of ceramic NF membranes with a cut-off below 450 D. International Workshop on Implementation of Nanofiltration Technology in the Pharmaceutical Industry, 9-10 Sep. 2011, Sofia, Bulgarien. [VORTRAG]
  • Kätzel U. (2011). Hurdles and Obstacles in applying OSN in the process development of API's. Workshop on Implementation of Nanofiltration Technology in the Pharmaceutical Industry, 9-10 Sep. 2011, Sofia, Bulgarien. [VORTRAG]
  • Kätzel U., I. Voigt (2011). NanoMembrane – Nanoporöse keramische Membranen zur nachhaltigen Wasser- und Lösemitteleinsparung. 1. Clustertreffen NanoNature/NanoCare, 10-11 Mai 2011, Frankfurt/Main, Deutschland. [VORTRAG]
  • Puhlfürß P., K. Herrmann, M. Schulze, D. Sittig, V. Prehn (2011). Entwicklung neuer keramischer Nanofiltrationsmembranen mit einer Trenngrenze von 200 g/mol. 1. Clustertreffen NanoNature/NanoCare, 10-11 Mai 2011, Frankfurt/Main, Deutschland. [POSTER]
  • Zeidler S., U. Kätzel, F. Aguilar, (2011). Einsatz von nanoporösen Keramikmembranen zum Recycling von Lösemittelströmen. 1. Clustertreffen NanoNature/NanoCare, 10-11 Mai 2011, Frankfurt/Main, Deutschland. [POSTER]
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