Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of operating conditions (transmembrane pressure, feed flow rate, and feed concentration) on the fouling attachment probabilities, mass of fouling, and cake height. Polycarbonate flat membrane with a pore size of 0.05 µm was used under a constant feed flow rate and cross-flow mode in ultrafiltration of a latex paint solution. The results obtained indicate that increasing transmembrane pressure from 15 to 45 psi lead to an increase in the particle-to-particle (αpp) and particle-to-membrane (αpm) attachment probabilities from 0.4 to 0.76 and 0.55 to 0.8, respectively. It was observed that both attachment probabilities were significantly decreased when the feed flow rate was increased from 1 to 6 LPM (cross flow velocity from 10.4 to 62.5 cm/s). As a consequence, mass of fouling and cake height were reduced. Increasing the feed concentration from 0.78 to 1.82 kg/m3 resulted in a substantial raise in the cake height from 4.3 to 18.5 µm. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to set up the experimental design. According to regression analysis, two correlation models were obtained in order to predict the fouling attachment probabilities at different operation conditions. Estimated attachment probabilities were used to predict mass of fouling retained by membrane.
Highlights
During the manufacturing of paint products, the cleaning of reactors and mixing basins generates a large amount of wastewater
Results obtained show that the transmembrane pressure (TMP), feed flow rate and feed concentration had a significant effect on the fouling attachment probabilities, mass of fouling and cake height
The reason for the minimal increase lies in the fact that the transmembrane pressure higher than the critical pressure has an insignificant effect on the permeate flux or the mass of fouling retained by the membrane
Summary
During the manufacturing of paint products, the cleaning of reactors and mixing basins generates a large amount of wastewater. One of the key factors that prevents a widespread application of UF is the decline of permeate flux with filtration time and the following loss of productivity due to membrane fouling during filtration process [4, 5]. Membrane fouling is one of the primary operational concerns of membrane applications. Membrane fouling reduces production rate and increases complexity of membrane filtration operation, since the system has to be halted more frequently to restore flux by backwashing. Membrane fouling leads to a significant increase in hydraulic resistance, manifested as the decline in permeate flux or increase in TMP, when the process is operated under constant-TMP or constant-
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
