Helen Julian

PhD Candidate
Contact Details
T: +61-2-9385-4339
E: h.julian@student.unsw.edu.au
Add:

Room 208, Chemical Sciences Bldg
The University of New South Wales
Sydney, 2052, Australia

Profile

Education

  • Masters in Chemical Engineering, Institute of Technology Bandung, Indonesia
  • Bachelors in Chemical Engineering, Institute of Technology Bandung, Indonesia

Research Project

Research Project Title: Membrane Distillation and Crystallization

Membrane distillation (MD) and crystallizers (MDC) provide a promising alternative to recover high quality water as well as valuable precipitates from brackish to hypersaline saline waters. However, the technical challenges to large-scale implementation include controlling mass and heat transfer to mitigate concentration polarization, fouling, and control of wetting phenomena. Two aspects are the focus of our current study. First, a combined submerged hollow membrane distillation/crystallizer configuration, which would require less energy and handle high solids content, will be investigated. Different enhanced shear force methods, especially transverse membrane vibration and aeration, will also be studied in order to provide better control of temperature polarization as well as fouling and crystal detachment on the membrane surface. Secondly, combinations of novel nanostructured membranes and membrane crystalliser process configurations will also be explored to control crystallisation yield, fouling, and crystal structure for various
applications.

Application of this technology include remediation of brine from coal seam methane extraction or produced water from oil/gas processing, disposal of brine from inland desalination processes, controlled crystallization of pharmaceutical/food products, and recovery of valuable inorganic salts.

Supervisors