Cleaning UF membranes with simple and formulated solutions

• Published in: Chemical engineering science Vol. 69; no. 1; pp. 679 - 683
• Main Authors: Levitsky, Inna, Duek, Aviv, Naim, Ronen, Arkhangelsky, Elizabeth, Gitis, Vitaly
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 13.02.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; BSA; Chemical engineering; Cleaning efficiency; Cleaning intensity; Exact sciences and technology; Filtration; Liquid-liquid and fluid-solid mechanical separations; Membrane separation (reverse osmosis, dialysis...); PES; Protein separation; PVDF; Protein separation; Cleaning intensity; BSA; Cleaning efficiency; PVDF; PES; Fouling; Filtration; Cleaning; Surfactant; Composite material; Membrane separation; Ultrafiltration

The ultrafiltration membranes fouled by proteins are typically cleaned by consecutive soaking in alkali, surfactant and oxidizing solutions. We combined all three chemicals into a formulated cleaning agent and examined its efficiency to restore the water flux without damaging the membrane or enhanci...