UNSTEADY-STATE PERMEATE FLUX OF CROSS-FLOW MICROFILTRATION - EFFECT OF PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION

A mathematical model based on a hydrodynamic theory and mass balance w as developed for the prediction of the unsteady-state permeate flux in crossflow microfiltration under the influence of particle size distri bution. Experiments were also conducted in a membrane filtration cell to verify this model. Spherical polystyrene latex particles of 0.303, 0.606, and 1.020 mu m were used to make suspensions of various particl e size distributions. The flow of the suspension in the channel of the filtration cell was controlled under the laminar flow region. It was found that the unsteady-state permeate flux increased as the mean part icle size of the suspension was increased, Moreover, the model predict ed satisfactorily the unsteady-state permeate flux under the effect of particle size distribution.