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A B S T R A C TThis study compares the performance of three different approaches to modeling namely the classical pore-blocking models, artificial neural networks (ANN) and the novel genetic programming (GP) approach. Among the available models proposed by Hermia, standard poreblocking and cake filtration models were opted because of their better fitness with experimental measurements. A feedforward backpropagation network using Bayesian Regulation as well as Levenberg-Marquardt training methods was developed based on the experimental results. Network inputs include the controlling parameters of permeate flux namely: temperature, transmembrane pressure, crossflow velocity, pH, and filtration time. The architecture and internal parameters of the network have substantial effect on the prediction performance of the ANN. Hidden layers and neuron numbers were regulated using trial-and-error approach. The individual program proposed by GP, which has satisfied the required fitness value after 500 generations, had a depth of 10 among a population of 700 individuals. Relative error with respect to experimental results was used to compare the aforementioned models. It was found that ANN outperformed pore-blocking and GP models. The GP-based model had an acceptable coincidence with the experimental data and its ability to correlate the input and target variables by a mathematical relation showed the high potentiality of GP as a modeling tool.

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