Membrane distillation as a second stage treatment of hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater after ultrafiltration

The aim of this study is the utilization of membrane distillation (MD) in the treatment of hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater (HTL-WW) to recover ammonium in the condensate. Experiments were carried out using MD under air-gap configuration with HTL-WW pretreated via Ultrafiltration. The results showed membrane stability in long-term operations, up to 36 days and through a wide range of feed temperatures, from 30 & DEG;C to 60 & DEG;C (Coolant temperature was kept at 20 & DEG;C). Feed temperatures, 50 & DEG;C and 60 & DEG;C provided the best condensate quality, defined by high ammonium concentrations, up to 12 g/L (for 60 & DEG;C feed temperature), and low impurity (low contamination by TOC) based on the highest NH4+:TOC ratio of 13 (for 50 & DEG;C feed temperature). Furthermore, since flux experienced an exponential growth with the increase of feed temperature, 60 & DEG;C was chosen as the optimal temperature to expand the study on membrane/condensate recovery, which was performed until 80%. From observational and several analytical methods, wetting was unavoidable above 60% recovery and the cause was credited to organic fouling, mainly via surfactants' adsorption on the membrane surface. This decreased the membrane hydrophobicity, and eventually led to the progressive wetting of the membrane at 80% recovery.

Automated summary

The aim of this study is to utilize membrane distillation to treat hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater and recover ammonium in the condensate. The results showed that the membrane exhibited long-term stability and could operate over a wide range of feed temperatures. The best condensate quality was obtained at feed temperatures of 50°C and 60°C, with high ammonium concentrations and low impurity levels. However, wetting of the membrane became unavoidable at recovery rates above 80%.