Process Modeling, Validation and Process Intensification of Vacuum Membrane Distillation

Abstract

Increasing water scarcity and the growing demand for high-purity water in industrial applications necessitate the development of sustainable, energy-efficient separation technologies capable of enabling zero liquid discharge (ZLD) and resource recovery. Conventional membrane processes such as reverse osmosis is limited when treating highly concentrated streams due to osmotic pressure and fouling, while traditional thermal desalination technologies are often capital- and energy-intensive. Vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) has emerged as a promising alternative, offering high solute rejection and compatibility with low-grade heat; however, its large-scale deployment is constrained by energy consumption and limited system-level optimization.