A fundamental study of membrane fouling using a novel microfluidic filtration system

Abstract

Membrane filtration has been widely employed in dairy manufacturing, wastewater treatment, and beverage clarification. However, the issue of membrane fouling significantly reduces the filtration performance by increasing the capital and operating costs. The mechanisms of membrane fouling during filtration processes are yet to be fully understood. This thesis details the development and application of a novel microfluidic filtration system for directly visualizing and measuring membrane fouling. Detailed, real-time characterizations of particle deposition during crossflow filtration have been examined over a range of solution properties and operating conditions. An empirical model considering..