Mechanisms involved in cadmium salts transport through a nanofiltration membrane: characterization and distribution

A qualitative method, based on the model previously proposed for nanofiltra tion, was developed to analyze mechanisms involved in solute transport thro ugh a given nanofiltration membrane. Convection related to solvent flux and diffusion due to concentration gradient effect have to be taken into accou nt to characterize solute transport during nanofiltration. Evolution and di stribution of these two mechanisms as a function of transmembrane pressure and solute concentration are illustrated in this work. It was shown that, i n most cases, convection plays the most important role, which demonstrates that the membrane used has fine pores. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.