Ø Adsorption and deposition of material present in the

feed on the membrane leading to loss of efficiency of

the separation process.

Ø In constant TMP membrane filtration fouling results in:

● Reduction in permeate flux
● Alteration in solute transmission

Ø In constant Jv membrane filtration fouling results

in:
● Increase in TMP
● Alteration in solute transmission
Effects of membrane fouling

Concentration polarization and

initial rapid fouling
Permeate flux

Slow long term fouling

Time
Factors affecting membrane fouling

Physicochemical properties of the membrane, e.g. hydrophobicity,

electrostatic charge, reactive groups
Physicochemical properties of the solute, molecular weight,
hydrophobicity, electrostatic charge, shape
Membrane morphology, i.e. pore size, pore shape, straight pores vs.
pore network
The operating parameters, e.g. TMP, permeate flux, system
hydrodynamics
Concentration polarization
The physicochemical parameters of the feed solution, e.g. solute
concentration, pH, salt concentration
Membrane operation history
Mechanisms of membrane fouling

External fouling
When the adsorption/deposition takes place on the external surface, the hydraulic
permeability and solute transmission characteristics are altered due to:
Increase in the effective membrane thickness
Blockage of pore entrance
Constriction of pore entrance

Internal fouling
When the adsorption or deposition takes place within the pores, the hydraulic
permeability and solute transmission characteristics are altered due to:
Internal blockage of pore
Internal constriction of pore
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Second level
● Third level

● Fourth level External fouling

● Fifth level
Ultrafiltration: Mode of
operation
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Second level
● Third level

● Fourth level

● Fifth level
Microfiltration

Microfiltration separates micron-sized

particles from fluids using
membranes having sub-micron sized
pores.
The size range of particles ranges from
0.02-10 μm.
Microfiltration membranes retain
particles by a purely sieving
mechanism.
Membranes for Microfiltration are
 Mode of
operation

Microfiltration can be operated either in dead-ended

(normal flow) mode or cross-flow mode.

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Second level
● Third level

● Fourth level

● Fifth level
Microfiltration: Applications

Cell harvesting from bioreactors

Virus removal for solutions

Clarification of fruit juice and beverages

Removal of cells from fermentation media

Water purification
Concentration polarization and
fouling in microfiltration
Concentration polarization in microfiltration is
different from that in UF
Fouling in microfiltration can be caused by particles
as well as solutes
Particles have much lower diffusivity than
consequently the extent of Fickian back diffusion is
negligible
Concentration polarization scheme based on a
stagnant film model is not feasible since the built-
up layer in microfiltration frequently exceeds the
hydrodynamic boundary layer thickness
The accumulated particles are brought back to bulk
solution primary by:
Shear induced diffusion
Enhancement of microfiltration
processes

Back flushing and pressure pulsing are used to remove

accumulated particles from the membrane surface

Flux enhancement can be achieved in microfiltration

processes using the same techniques as in
ultrafiltration processes

The actual mechanisms involved in flux enhancement

are different in microfiltration and ultrafiltration
processes
Microfiltration equations