Design of a Laboratory Scale Test Facility for Cross Flow Micro- and Ultra- Filtration Membranes

Abstract

Systematic UMFF (Ultra-and micro-filtration facility) was developed to investigate the influence of the pressure, flux rate, flux recovery and different solution on different types of membrane. During the study, a control strategy (controlled flow in backflush and filtration process) was formulated, including instrumentation diagrams. After commissioning, calibration was the essential part to run experiments efficiently. The membrane behavior under different conditions was observed by UMFF. Different components were customized and then assembled. In the end different standard membranes were tested to check the performance of the system and to validate the results with independent measurements. During the filtration process, the commercial membranes were test with the ultra-pure (clean) water and different protein solution in order to check the efficiency of UMFF. Fouling behavior of membrane was elaborated and understood by the phenomena of mass transfer. Later, 1 g/L concentration of BSA (Bovine serum albumin) was taken for filtration and observed the fouling, which was due to an adsorption of rejected particles on the membrane surface and later, influence the transmembrane pressure. Fluxes of different membranes were analyzed at different flow rates and feed pressures. The membrane behavior towards the back flush method is of great importance, especially flux recovery in order to estimate the efficiency of membrane.