Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol.73, No.1, 71-75, 1999
Application of Stefan-Maxwell approach to azeotropic separation by membrane distillation
A multicomponent mass transfer model based on the Stefan-Maxwell formalism is developed to predict membrane distillation performance in separating azeotropic mixtures. The developed model accounts for all coupling interactions between the diffusing species as well as for temperature and concentration polarization effects. The model is validated with previously published experimental data of propionic acid/water azeotropic mixture. The model predicts the effect of the process relevant parameters very well.