Modeling of fouling and foulant attachments on heterogeneous membranes in ultrafiltration of latex solution

The aim of the present study was to obtain the predictive models that would allow for the accurate estimation of the depositional and coagulation attachments, at different operational conditions and using heterogeneous membranes with non-uniform pore size. The fouling attachments predicted by the model can in turn be applied in estimation of the added mass due to fouling and the increase in transmembrane pressure using the developed fouling model applicable in the case of non-uniform pore size membranes. The fouling model and the correlations found in the present study form a comprehensive set of predictive models, generalized for the applications of hydrophilic membranes to a variety of materials with different molecular weight cut off (MWCO) values. The effects of the operating conditions on the fouling attachments, mass of fouling, cake layer, and permeate flux in ultrafiltration of latex solution using heterogeneous membranes was also investigated. Polysulfone flat membrane with MWCO of 60,000 was used under a constant flow rate and cross-flow mode in ultrafiltration of the latex paint solution. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was implemented in the experimental design. Furthermore, hydrophilic Ultrafilic membranes and hydrophobic Polyvinylidene Difluoride membranes, with a MWCO of 100,000, and hydrophilic cellulose acetate membranes, with a MWCO of 20,000, were used to test the accuracy of the correlations for applications with non-uniform pore size membranes. The model well predicted the deposition attachment of diverse hydrophilic membranes with different MWCO values.