Analysis of microstructural properties of ultrafiltration cake layer during its early stage formation and growth

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-15-2021

Department

Department of Chemical Engineering; Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

Abstract

Understanding the development of microstructure of cake layer during filtration can help establish effective operating conditions and membrane cleaning cycles. In this work, dynamic behavior of cake layers formed during early stage of ultrafiltration (UF) of colloids was analyzed in terms of cake porosity, fractal structure and evolution of fouling mechanisms. Experimental data on membrane fouling by SiO2 colloids under different conditions were recorded to study the effect of pH (1.0–8.9), salinity (0–3.5 %wt. NaCl) and nanoparticle concentration (30–1000 ppm). The results show time dependent behavior of cake porosity with a steady state value lower at lower pH and at higher salinity of the continuous phase. Multiple fouling mechanisms were identified to occur sequentially with cake filtration as the dominant mechanism. High fractal dimension (2.45–2.94) was obtained in all conditions tested. Fractal dimension of a growing cake is shown to undergo a sharp transition to a higher value, pointing to cake restructuring during filtration.

Publication Title

Journal of Membrane Science

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