Mass transfer in parallel-plate separation devices with nonequilibrium facilitated reactive membranes

The introduction of a mobile carrier species which reacts reversibly with the solute species in a liquid membrane mass transfer separation device can give enhanced mass transfer rates. For fully developed, one dimensional laminar flow of a a parallel-membrane separator with nonequilibrium facilitated transport inside the membrane, the mass transfer rate in the separator was analysed numerically. The effect of Damkohler number, maximum facilitation factor, dimensionless equilibrium constant, and wall Sherwood number times equilibrium distribution coefficient on the performance of separators was investigated. The dependence of facilitation factor and mixing cup concentration on Damkohler number was discussed.