Studies on fouling and gel polarisation aspects of polyvinyl butyral blended cellulose acetate ultrafiltration membrane by resistance model approach

Ultrafiltration (UF) process is gaining increasing attention for processing a variety of chemical effluent streams. A large number of polymeric candid ates have been identified as potentially useful UF membrane candidates. A s eries of UF membranes from polyvinyl butyral blended cellulose acetate were synthesized and their fouling characteristics were investigated with respe ct to changing polarity of the polymer candidate. The results are analysed using resistance model approach using polyethylene glycol and polyethylenei mine: solutes. Membrane fouling and gel polarisation aspects are studied fr om the observed changes in water permeation rates when polar and nonpolar m acromolecular solutes are employed. The effect of operating pressure, time and concentration were studied and the various resistances are quantified. Attempts were made to predict gel polarisation resistance using a simplifie d model.