Preparation of mullite ceramic microfilter membranes using Response surface methodology based on central composite design

Water flux and mechanical strength as important characteristics were measured for all the membranes. For the membrane with the optimum porosity, water flux, mechanical strength, and free silica removal percentage were 61.7 kg/m2 h, 21.6 MPa, and 28.2%, respectively. The maximum rejection percentage was 97.2% and emulsion flux for this state was 15.6 kg/m2 h at temperature 25 °C and cross flow velocity of 1.5 m/s.