Experimental determination of critical flux in cross-flow microfiltration

In this study, two definitions of critical flux were introduced based on th e cross-flow microfiltration (CFMF) experiments conducted under an operatio nal mode of constant permeate flux. The critical flux based on mass balance was calculated from the rate of particle deposition at a certain permeate flux. Below the critical flux, there will be no particle deposition on the membranes. The other was defined on the basis of the increase in transmembr ane pressure (TMP). The critical nux based on the TMP increase is the flux below which membrane fouling does not occur. The critical nux based on both definitions was evaluated from experiments with different particle size, m embrane pore size? influent concentration and ionic strength of the influen t suspension. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.