Direct Contact Membrane Distillation Pilot Test

This research project focused on direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) process, where hot brine flows on one side of a porous hydrophobic membrane and cold distillate flows on the other side. Water vapor evaporated from the hot brine flows through the hydrophobic membrane pores and is condensed in the cold distillate flowing on the other side. We had employed crossflow of brine around large diameter thick-walled polypropylene hollow fibers whose surface was coated with a porous hydrophobic fluorosilicone coating. This level of successful performance led to the building of a small DCMD pilot plant via a Bureau-sponsored pilot plant project.