A Numerical Model for Flux Decline During the Crossflow Ultrafiltration of Colloidal Suspensions

Mass transfer during crossflow ultrafiltration is mathematically expressed using the two-dimensional convective-diffusion equation. Numerical simulations showed that mass transfer in crossflow filtration quickly reaches a steady-state for constant boundary conditions. Hence, the unsteady nature of the permeate flux decline must be caused by changes in the hydraulic boundary condition at the membrane surface due to cake formation during filtration. A step-wise pseudo steady-state model was developed to predict the flux decline due to concentration polarization during crossflow ultrafiltration. An iterative algorithm was employed to predict the amount of flux decline for each finite time interval until the true steady-state permeate flux is established. For model verification, crossflow filtration of monodisperse polystyrene latex suspensions ranging from 0.064 to 2.16 μm in diameter was studied under constant transmembrane pressure mode. Besides the crossflow filtration tests, dead-end filtration tests were also carried out to independently determine a model parameter, the specific cake resistance. Another model parameter, the effective diffusion coefficient, is defined as the sum of molecular and shear-induced hydrodynamic diffusion coefficients. The step-wise pseudo steady-state model predictions are in good agreement with experimental results of flux decline during crossflow ultrafiltration of colloidal suspensions. Experimental variations in particle size, feed concentration, and crossflow velocity were also effectively modeled.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Lee, Yong-Hun

Contributors dc:contributor

• Clark, Mark M.

• Environmental Sciences

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9904523

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/83455