ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Analysis and Characterization of Membrane Fouling of Ultrafiltration Separation for Oil-in-Water Emulsion

X. Hu, E. Bekassy-Molnar, and Gy. Vatai

Institute of Tribology, Hefei University of Technology, PRC-230009 Hefei

E-mail: xghu@hfut.edu.cn

Received: 22 March 2002

Abstract: Ultra ltration membrane fouling and cleaning in the process of oil-in-water emulsion treatment was investigated. The e ects of flow velocity and feed emulsion temperature on the membrane surface fouling and the permeate flux are discussed. The results show that the e ects of the feed temperature and cross-flow velocity on the reduction of membrane fouling are signi cant at higher emulsion concentration, while at lower emulsion concentration the influence of feed temperature on membrane fouling is not obvious. The fouled membrane surface was observed by scanning electron microscopy and the chemical composition of foulants was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The experimental results show that the permeability of ultra ltration membrane can be recovered with the help of a micellar solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate—pentan-1-ol—water.

Full paper in Portable Document Format: 571a16.pdf

Chemical Papers 57 (1) 16–20 (2003)