kalvoerottelu

Kalvoerottelu is a Finnish term that appears in discussions of membrane-based separation processes. In most technical contexts, the more common term is kalvoerottelu, which literally means membrane separation. Kalvoerottelu, while understood in some sources, is less standardized and may result from regional variation or spelling variation. The concept refers to technologies that use a semipermeable membrane to separate components of a mixture based on differences in permeability.

The underlying principle involves driving a driving force, such as pressure or concentration gradient, across a membrane. Different substances pass through the membrane at different rates, allowing one component to be concentrated or recovered while another is retained. The membranes can be made from polymers or ceramics, and the separation efficiency depends on membrane selectivity, flux, and resistance to fouling. Common process configurations include flat-sheet, spiral-wound, and hollow-fiber modules, each suited to different scale and application.

Kalvoerottelu encompasses several techniques, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis. Microfiltration and ultrafiltration remove larger particulates and macromolecules, nanofiltration targets smaller solutes, and reverse osmosis achieves very high rejection of salts and small molecules. These methods are widely used in water treatment, desalination, dairy and food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and laboratory analytics.

Ongoing research in kalvoerottelu focuses on improving membrane materials for greater selectivity and fouling resistance, developing energy-efficient module designs, and refining cleaning and maintenance protocols. While the terminology varies, the core idea remains to achieve efficient separation with membranes as selective barriers. See also dialysis, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis.