Abstract
A semi-empirical model is presented for the prediction of foulant deposit thickness and concentration, and thereby, predicting the permeate flux in cross-flow microfiltration and ultrafiltration. The scope of the model is limited to colloidal suspensions (i.e. non-diffusive solutes) and its hallmark is its applicability to polydispersed influents. The theoretical model was verified with experimental observations and found to yield a fairly good agreement with an error less than 62% of the average flux over 100 min of filtration. However, evaluation of model coefficients a and b is necessary through laboratory studies. The model was successfully used to predict the effect of particle size distribution ( PSD) on permeate flux. The simulation results corroborate the contention that the long-term flux decline is due to the reduction is foulant deposit permeability via infiltration of fines into the cake, thereby demonstrating the importance of influent particle size distribution ( PSD) on foulant deposit permeability. The proposed model is a first step towards the modeling of polydispersed influents. As such there is a lot of scope for further refinements which is briefly discussed.
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