P. Pradanos et al., A COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF FLUX LIMIT MODELS FOR ULTRAFILTRATION MEMBRANES, Journal of membrane science, 108(1-2), 1995, pp. 129-142
Here the permeate flux versus concentration characteristics of 0.1% w/
w to 8% w/w aqueous solutions of dextran T-500, with a mean molecular
weight of 500 000 dalton, are studied when they are tangentially filte
red at 298 K through a new polyamide asymmetric membrane, with an appl
ied pressure of 700 kPa, while the recirculation velocity in the reten
tate loop is kept constant in a range from 0.08 to 0.49 m/s. In such c
onditions, all these solutions are totally retained. The mass transfer
coefficient is calculated, within the frame of the film theory for th
e concentration-polarization phenomenon, by studying the permeate flux
as a function of concentration. It allows the evaluation of the membr
ane surface concentration as well. This concentration is also calculat
ed by taking into account the osmotic limit theory. These two results
for c(m) are tested by calculating the expected permeate fluxes in ter
ms of the resistance model and comparing with the experimental ones. I
t can be concluded that the osmotic limit model reproduces the experim
ental permeate fluxes better, and in a wider range, than the gelation
model.