ELECTRIC-FIELD ENHANCED CROSS-FLOW MICROFILTRATION OF HYDROPHOBICALLY-MODIFIED WATER-SOLUBLE POLYMERS

Electric held enhanced crossflow microfiltration of a hydrophobically modified water soluble polymer (HMWSP) is studied. HMWSPs have chemica l structures which are similar to the structure of surfactants. The ap plication of the electric held results in permeate flux and rejection enhancements compared with the no electric case. At an electric field strength of 167 V/cm, the individual enhancements in permeate flux and pseudo-gel concentration (C-g()) and reduction in permeate polymer c oncentration can be as high as ten-fold. The mechanisms of concentrati on polarisation and solute rejection for HMWSP are significantly diffe rent than those encountered in surfactant dispersions. In the present case, the gel layer does not act as a secondary membrane.