Membrandestillation

Membrane distillation. In the membrane distillation process, two aqueous liquids of different temperature border on the two lateral surfaces of a hydrophobic (non‐wettable) membrane. The vapor pressure difference resulting from the temperature difference causes vapor molecules to be transported through the pores of the membrane, comparable to an evaporation, transport, and condensation process in distillation. The dependence of this process on various process parameters, possibilities of energy recovery, and application in the fields of pure water production, evaporation of solutions, and recovery of valuable substances are reported.