What You Need to Know
Membrane distillation (MD) is a thermally driven separation process in which separation is driven by phase change. A hydrophobic membrane presents a barrier for the liquid phase, allowing the vapour phase to pass through the membrane's pores. The driving force of the process is a partial vapour pressure difference commonly triggered by a temperature difference.
Key Parameters
Temperature
50°C
0°C - 100°C
Time
1 hour
30 minutes - 2 hours
Equipment
Membrane distillation unitHeat sourceWater bath
Steps
- 1.
Maple syrup concentration (North America): Gentle flavor preservation during concentration
- 2.
Sake lees distillation (Japan): Alcohol removal while retaining umami compounds
- 3.
Olive mill wastewater recovery (Mediterranean): Polyphenol concentration from byproducts