Application of a magnetically induced membrane vibration (MMV) system for lignocelluloses hydrolysate filtration

•A magnetically induced membrane vibration filtration (MMV) system was applied.•High substrate loading hydrolysate was filtrated in a submerged configuration.•Membrane surface modification cannot really prevent fouling when foulants deposited.•The MMV improved membrane permeance, especially at higher vibration amplitudes.

A membrane separation was introduced to treat the lignocellulose hydrolysate from the production of bio-ethanol in order to reuse the enzymes and reduce product inhibition. To handle the severe problem of membrane fouling in this type of feed, which results in lowered membrane permeances, the recently developed magnetically induced membrane vibration filtration (MMV) system was applied in a submerged configuration using four different commercial ultrafiltration membranes. The results indicated that membrane surface hydrophilic modifications could not really prevent fouling; on the other hand, vibration enhanced filtration was proved to be an efficient way to improve membrane performance via preventing or limiting of fouling, especially at higher vibration amplitudes and for more dilute feeds.