Abstract
With a view to concentrating the microorganisms in a thermophilic methane fermentation broth, we studied the characteristics of cross-flow filtration, using tubular ceramic membranes in liquid single-phase, gas-liquid two-phase and gas-liquid-solid three-phase flow systems. The following results were obtained: (i) an asymmetric membrane with smaller pore diameter and lower permeate resistance gave higher permeate flux, (ii) by the promotion of turbulence in the gas-liquid mixture in a two-phase flow system, the permeate flux was increased with an increase in the feed-gas flow rate, and it was of a satisfactorily high value, (iii) a cake layer was irreversibly formed on the membrane surface, behaving as a self-rejective dynamic membrane. In excessive cross-flow and/or abrasive conditions, plugging was found likely to occur because of destruction of the dynamic membrane, and the flux was lowered as a consequence, and (iv) the critical flux existed under a low transmembrane pressure of about 50 kPa.
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