Work

Introducing Reverse Osmosis and Membrane Distillation in the Recovery Process of N-Methylmorpholine N-Oxide in Cellulose Fiber Production

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study serves as a proof of concept for the evaluation of two membrane technologies, reverse osmosis combined with membrane distillation, for the recovery of N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) and water from generated wastewater by the textile manufacturing “Lyocell process”. This method utilizes NMMO to dissolve cellulose for the production of cellulosic yarn, resulting in wastewater that contains 1–2 %w/w NMMO. After an initial pretreatment to remove suspended solids, followed by a mixed ion-exchange resin, the stream was fed into a reverse osmosis membrane unit, concentrating the solution to approximately 10 %w/w NMMO. Following this step, the RO concentrate was introduced to a DCMD setup equipped with a PTFE microporous membrane, achieving a final concentration of a 70.5 %w/w NMMO aqueous solution, which is considered suitable for reuse. The main contribution of the present study is to establish, in principle, that the newly proposed method can be a modular and scalable alternative to the dominant multi-stage evaporation technologies.

Source: Recycling

DOI: 10.3390/recycling10050194

Authors: Sofia Plakantonaki, Ioannis Tournis, Nikolaos Zacharopoulos, Evangelos Kouvelos, Andreas A. Sapalidis, Chrysoula Athanasekou

Institutions: University of West Attica, National Centre of Scientific Research "Demokritos", Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Language: English

Topic: Membrane Separation Technologies

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,172