Solar Dew Membrane Characterization, Production, and Evaluation

Solar dew technology is a suitable technique for saline oily wastewater treatment using renewable solar energy. It is a good option for wastewater treatment in desert oil fields. The material which is used in this system is a non-porous hydrophilic membrane. The membrane is a non-porous and thus does not allow salts to pass; so this is a non-fouling and non-scaling membrane and there is no need for any water pretreatment. Different kinds of saline oily wastewater can be used as the influent. In this study, preparing and evaluation of membrane were considered. A membrane from Akzo Nobel Company, which is used in solar dew pilot at Sarkhoon gas refinery, was chosen as a reference. After the characterization of the membrane, it was produced by blow molding technique and then its physical and mechanical properties and vapor permeation were evaluated. Finally, the analyses of sea water and Sarkhoon gas refinery wastewater passed through the membrane were evaluated and the results were compared with the same system without a membrane. The study on physical and mechanical properties of the used membrane showed a high tensile, impact strength, and elongation. The results of the water vapor permeability of the membrane compared with porous membranes show a high performance of this membrane for using in the pervaporation system. As the membrane production is economic, it is a good candidate for using in solar dew systems.