ABSTRACT
The feed is pumped from the shell side and the permeate is
withdrawn from the inside of the fibers. The hollow fibers
used for RO are different from those used for UF and MF.
The latter are larger in diameter (0.2-3 mm) and the feed is
pumped through the tube side, with the permeate with-
drawn from the shell side. Some advantages of hollow fine
fibers are 1) compact and high packing density, resulting
in low holdup, and 2) high resistance to compression, and
thus very high pressures can be used. This is a particular
advantage in applications where osmotic pressure is the
main limiting factor, such as sugar and salt solutions. The
main disadvantage is that it is easily fouled by suspended
matter, and thus the feed requires good prefiltration.
