Investigation of nano-colloid transport in UF membranes using flow field-flow fractionation (flow FFF) and an irreversible thermodynamic transport model

• Published in: Desalination Vol. 179; no. 1; pp. 151 - 159
• Main Authors: Moon, Jihee, Cho, Jaeweon
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 10.07.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical engineering; Concentration polarization coupled thermodynamic transport model (CPCT); Exact sciences and technology; Flow field-flow fractionation; Heat and mass transfer. Packings, plates; Hydrodynamics of contact apparatus; Membrane separation (reverse osmosis, dialysis...); Moment analyses; Nano-colloids; Pollution; Moment analyses; Flow field-flow fractionation; Nano-colloids; Concentration polarization coupled thermodynamic transport model (CPCT); Field flow fractionation; Non linear estimation; Fouling; Microsphere; Concentration polarization; Flow field- flow fractionation; Permeability; Irreversible thermodynamics; Flow field; Modeling; Mass transfer; Membrane separation; Transport process; Mass transfer coefficient; Ultrafiltration; Membrane filtration; Aerosols; Colloid particle
• ISSN: 0011-9164; 1873-4464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2004.11.063

Membrane fouling has been associated with the size of solutes, i.e., macromolecules and colloids in membrane filtration. Colloidal fouling propensity was investigated in terms of transport characteristics by the thermodynamic transport model combined with concentration polarization and flow field-flow fractionation (flow FFF). Transport characteristics in membranes were focused on, especially nano-colloid fouling in UF membranes. Whey protein and 30 nm of latex microsphere suspensions were used as test solutions. Transport parameters were determined in terms of mass transfer coefficient ( k), solute permeability ( P m ), and reflection coefficient (σ) by non-linear estimation. The flow FFF provided a consistent explanation for the nano-colloid transport, depending on the physicochemical interactions between membrane and solute through the transport parameters determined from filtration tests. The second and third moments, variance and skewness were expected to be very useful quantitative information on the membrane fouling propensity of a certain solute.