Filtration Behavior Of Aqueous Solution Of Bovine Serum Albumin Using Anodic Aluminum Oxide Membranes

The principles and practice of separation technology using inorganic membranes have experienced rapid development since 1940's. Inorganic membranes have been applied to some important fields, including chemical industries, petrochemical, metallurgy, biochemistry, environment, food and pharmacy. Experiments focused on aqueous solution of proteins are widely used to study the membrane fouling in food and biochemistry fields. Investigation of process mechanisms is significant to membrane application. Membrane filtration membranes are often studied by microfiltration or ultrafiltration of standard protein solution. However, due to the complexity microstructure of ceramic membranes, it is difficult to quantify the effects of pore size of ceramic membrane on permeability. Filtration of bovine serum albumin (BSA) solutions using anodic aluminum oxide membranes with cylindrical pores was studied. The fouling mechanism of filtration and effects of process parameters on permeate flux were investigated.The cross-flow filtration experimental apparatus containing a plate membrane was established, effect of pore sizes of membranes, concentration of BSA and operation parameters on filtration flux were investigated. The fouling was analyzed based on the determination of resistances and a membrane cleaning method was provided. The membrane with pore size of 20nm had higher steady flux and lower filtration resistance. The steady flux of membrane with pore size of 20nm increased with concentration of BSA from 0.1 to 1.0 g·L-1. The steady flux hardly increased when concentration increased from 1.0 to 2.0 g·L-1. The steady flux increased first and then decreased with transmembrane pressure increase from 0.08 to 0.15MPa, the steady flux reached maximum at transmembrane pressure of 0.1MPa.Comparing three blocking models, filtration of BSA solutions using membrane with pore size of 200 nm followed the intermediate blocking model. Change of steady flux and retention with different process parameters was investigated. For 2...