Review of Membrane Based Solvent Extraction

Review of Membrane Based Solvent Extraction

Author Name : Dr. Trupti Dharmarao, Ms. Ira Sahasrabudhe, Mr. Surin Gupte

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56025/IJARESM.2025.1303253902

ABSTRACT For almost two decades, membrane technology has garnered significant importance in separation based unit operations. This technology has been widely accepted due to strict environmental legislation and regulations that are being imposed on conventional separation technologies. Membrane based solvent extraction (MBSE) combines the principles of solvent extraction and membrane technology, a technique that utilizes a semi permeable membrane, which aids selective and efficient separation of target components and offers notable advantages such as reduced energy consumption, lower solvent requirements, a range of operational flexibility, and environmental sustainability. Although there are many benefits of MBSE over conventional solvent extraction, there are certain key areas that needs further research and study. These issues include membrane stability, fouling and scaling, mass transfer limitations, and solvent compatibility. By addressing these issues, MBSE can serve as the best candidate to replace solvent extraction and also serve as a viable alternative to distillation. This review paper presents a comprehensive overview of MBSE, focusing on process fundamentals, factors affecting extraction performance, advantages, and challenges. Furthermore, the paper explores future research directions and potential industrial applications, positioning MBSE as a promising technology for sustainable separations.