Pore Scale Modelling for a Porous Membrane

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If I do pore scale modelling in a confined space for small plants or a reservoir, by direct pore space, reservoir modelling or network modelling using Navier-Stokes, Boltzmann method - is that valid for contaminant removal by using a porous membrane or can it be effective in water treatment?

Is it viable to succeed in near future in wastewater treatment areas as well?

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2 Answers

  1. This is an interesting question. Pore space models for membrane materials are by themselves generally too limited to be a reliable predictive tool for specific contaminant removal. Many other chemical factors contribute to organic contaminant rejection by membranes, including organic-membrane interactions (hydrophobic, estatic, VDW, pi-pi, etc.), organic shape, polarity, structure, flexibility, charge distributions, isomeric forms and more. Another consideration is the dynamics of the nano-pores themselves. How flexible are they? What is their distribution? Is the local pore chemistry different in some way from the bulk material? The dielectric properties of the pores may be quite different than the bulk material.