The use of fluid dynamic gauging in investigating the thickness and cohesive strength of cake fouling layers formed during cross-flow microfiltration
Journal article, 2018

A common challenge during membrane filtration is cake fouling, whereby the build-up of material on the membrane surface reduces the permeate flux. Such fouling layers can also alter the selectivity of the separation. In this study, fluid dynamic gauging (FDG) is used in situ to investigate the cake fouling formed during cross-flow filtration of a model material: softwood Kraft lignin. FDG was used to estimate (i) the thickness of the cake layers (in the gm scale) and (ii) the local cohesive strength at different depths in the cake layer. Fouling layers formed at different transmembrane pressure (TMP) values were investigated. The estimated thickness of the cake layers increased with increasing TMP. However, it was difficult to capture the full cake thickness for the more loosely formed cakes layers. An increase in the cohesive strength of the cake was found to occur with increasing TMP values. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microfiltration

In-situ measurement

Cake thickness

Fouling

Cross-flow filtration

Author

Tuve Mattsson

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

William J. T. Lewis

University of Bath

Y. M. John Chew

University of Bath

Michael R. Bird

University of Bath

Separation and Purification Technology

1383-5866 (ISSN) 18733794 (eISSN)

Vol. 198 25-30

Subject Categories

Paper, Pulp and Fiber Technology

Other Materials Engineering

Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics

DOI

10.1016/j.seppur.2017.01.040

More information

Latest update

2/10/2021