A mechanistic model for ultrafiltration membrane fouling by latex

作者：Abdelrasoul Amira^*; Doan Huu; Lohi Ali

来源：Journal of Membrane Science, 2013, 433: 88-99.

DOI：10.1016/j.memsci.2013.01.003

• Ultrafiltration
• Latex
• Fouling
• Chemical attachment model

A mathematical model was developed to predict the amount of fouling based on analyses of particle attachments. Fouling could be primarily attributed to the attachments among foulant entities (coagulation attachment) and between foulants and membrane surfaces (depositional attachment). The model was combined with the Hermia model to further develop models for transmembrane pressure prediction. Simulation results indicate that depositional attachment is primarily responsible for reversible and irreversible membrane fouling.
The model was validated using experimental data of ultrafiltration of a latex paint solution under a constant feed flow rate and cross-flow mode with a polycarbonate membrane. Feed solid concentration, feed flow rate, permeate flow rate and membrane properties influenced the latex retention and the transmembrane pressure. It was found that increase in the feed concentration and the permeate flow rate resulted in increasing fouling probabilities, latex retention and transmembrane pressure. On the other hand, increasing the feed flow rate led to an opposite effect. Transmembrane pressure estimated from the mathematical models agreed with the transmembrane pressure experimentally measured within 5-8% error. Overall, this study established a mechanistic model useful in understanding and predicting UF membrane fouling with the use of experimentally determined attachment probabilities.

• 出版日期2013-4-15