The lecture on membrane technology supply provides students with a broad understanding of existing membrane treatment processes, encompassing pressure driven membrane processes, membrane application in electrodialyis, pervaporation as well as membrane distillation. The lectures main focus is the industrial production of drinking water like particle separation or desalination; however gas separation processes as well as specific wastewater oriented applications such as membrane bioreactor systems will be discussed as well.

Initially, basics in low pressure and high pressure membrane applications are presented (microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis). Students learn about essential water quality parameter, transport equations and key parameter for pore membrane as well as solution diffusion membrane systems. The lecture sets a specific focus on fouling and scaling issues and provides knowledge on methods how to tackle with these phenomena in real water treatment application. A further part of the lecture deals with the character and manufacturing of different membrane materials and the characterization of membrane material by simple methods and advanced analysis.

The functions, advantages and drawbacks of different membrane housings and modules are explained. Students learn how an industrial membrane application is designed in the succession of treatment steps like pre-treatment, water conditioning, membrane integration and post-treatment of water. Besides theory, the students will be provided with knowledge on membrane demo-site examples and insights in industrial practice.