No abstract

Novel signal-processing protocols were used to extend the in situ sensitivity of ultrasonic frequency-domain reflectometry (UFDR) for real-time monitoring of microfiltration (MF) membrane fouling during protein purification. Different commercial membrane materials, with a nominal pore size of 0.2 μm, were challenged using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and amylase as model proteins. Fouling induced by these proteins was observed in flat-sheet membrane filtration cells operating in a laminar cross-flow regime. The detection of membrane-associated proteins using UFDR was determined by applying rigorous statistical methodology to reflection spectra of ultrasonic signals obtained during membrane fouling. Data suggest that the total power reflected from membrane surfaces changes in response to protein fouling at concentrations as low as 14 μg/cm2, and results indicate that ultrasonic spectra can be leveraged to detect and monitor protein fouling on commercial MF membranes.

High molecular weight polyeugenol was synthesized by cationic polymerization, using the H2SO4-CH3COOH catalyst, and further characterized. Furthermore, the polymers were determined to be heterotactic using 1H measurement, while the membrane produced from a combination of PVC/DOP (32:38) and DOP was liquid, with polyeugenol alone generating solid. The result of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis indicates a pore size of 42.3 - 127 μm in polyeugenol membrane and the potential for application in the filtration of yeast cells, bacteria, and oil emulsions.