In this study the fouling mechanisms of various microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes were studied when subjected to crossflow filtration using various protein solutions. Experimentation was carried out using controlled flux experiments and fouling phenomena was investigated via the monitoring of the transmembrane pressure (TMP) and rejection. Electron microscopy was employed to study fouling on microfiltration membranes when single protein solutions were filtered while a novel method involving Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) was developed to qualitatively and quantitatively analyse mixed proteins fouled on ultrafiltration membranes. An apparent critical flux was identified whereby fouling was shown to occur at fluxes where there was no increase in TMP. TMP increase is one of the common indicators of fouling in controlled flux operation. Microfiltration experiments showed that the imposition of the apparent critical flux is accompanied by rapid increases in hydraulic resistance and the membrane wall concentration. Pore blockage and narrowing occurred at somewhat higher fluxes as indicated by increases in the observed rejection. Fouling was not influenced greatly by the addition of electrolytes for microfiltration membranes but observed transmissions were found to be greater than 100% when ultrafiltration membranes were employed. For all membranes used, the actual value of the apparent critical flux was shown to be independent of the salt concentration but dependent on pH. Sub apparent-critical constant flux microfiltration showed the existence of an aggregation/deposition time lag after which the membrane experiences a rapid increase in resistance due to protein aggregates blocking a majority of pores. This phenomenon was shown to be dependent on pH and ionic strength and was concluded to be the product of a balance between electrostatic, solubility and hydrophobic interactions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/187832 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Chan, Robert, Chemical Engineering & Industrial Chemistry, UNSW |
| Publisher | Awarded by:University of New South Wales. Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Copyright Robert Chan, http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/copyright |
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