<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In this work a fouling study of polypropylene membranes used for microfiltration of glycerol solutions fermented by <italic>Citrobacter freundii</italic> bacteria was presented. The permeate free of <italic>C. freundii</italic> bacteria and having a turbidity in the range of 0.72–1.46 NTU was obtained. However, the initial permeate flux (100–110 L/m<sup>2</sup>h at 30 kPa of transmembrane pressure) was decreased 3–5 fold during 2–3 h of process duration. The performed scanning electron microscope observations confirmed that the filtered bacteria and suspensions present in the broth formed a cake layer on the membrane surface. A method of periodical module rinsing was used for restriction of the fouling influence on a flux decline. Rinsing with water removed most of the bacteria from the membrane surface, but did not permit to restore the initial permeate flux. It was confirmed that the irreversible fouling was dominated during broth filtration. The formed deposit was removed using a 1 wt% solution of sodium hydroxide as a rinsing solution.</p></abstract>

In this work a fouling study of polypropylene membranes used for microfiltration of glycerol solutions fermented by Citrobacter freundii bacteria was presented. The permeate free of C. freundii bacteria and having a turbidity in the range of 0.72–1.46 NTU was obtained. However, the initial permeate flux (100–110 L/m2h at 30 kPa of transmembrane pressure) was decreased 3–5 fold during 2–3 h of process duration. The performed scanning electron microscope observations confirmed that the filtered bacteria and suspensions present in the broth formed a cake layer on the membrane surface. A method of periodical module rinsing was used for restriction of the fouling influence on a flux decline. Rinsing with water removed most of the bacteria from the membrane surface, but did not permit to restore the initial permeate flux. It was confirmed that the irreversible fouling was dominated during broth filtration. The formed deposit was removed using a 1 wt% solution of sodium hydroxide as a rinsing solution.

Studies of polypropylene membrane fouling during microfiltration of broth with <italic>Citrobacter freundii</italic> bacteria

West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Institute of Inorganic Technology and Environment Engineering, ul. Pułaskiego 10, 70-322 Szczecin, Poland

Polish Journal of Chemical Technology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Studies of polypropylene membrane fouling during microfiltration of broth with  bacteria

In this work a fouling study of polypropylene membranes used for microfiltration of glycerol solutions fermented by Citrobacter freundii bacteria was...

Studies of polypropylene membrane fouling during microfiltration of broth with Citrobacter freundii bacteria

Published Online: Nov 27, 2015

Page range: 56 - 64

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/pjct-2015-0069

Keywords
microfiltration, fouling, glycerol fermentation, 1,3-propanediol

© 2015 Marek Gryta et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Studies of polypropylene membrane fouling during microfiltration of broth with Citrobacter freundii bacteria

Published Online: Nov 27, 2015

Page range: 56 - 64

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/pjct-2015-0069

Keywordsmicrofiltration, fouling, glycerol fermentation, 1,3-propanediol

© 2015 Marek Gryta et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
microfiltration, fouling, glycerol fermentation, 1,3-propanediol