THE EFFECT OF PROTEIN FOULING IN MICROFILTRATION AND ULTRAFILTRATION ON PERMEATE FLUX, PROTEIN RETENTION AND SELECTIVITY - A LITERATURE-REVIEW

The application of ultrafiltration and microfiltration to protein solutions is hindered by membrane fouling that results in a decrease in the permeate flux and protein transmission with time. This review describes the evidence for fouling both on the membrane surface and within the membrane pores. The effect of the feed properties, membrane properties and the operating conditions on membrane behaviour and fouling are discussed. In ultrafiltration, fouling occurs predominantly on the membrane surface where the dynamic membrane controls membrane behaviour. In microfiltration, severe pore plugging by protein occurs, in spite of the pores being an order of magnitude larger than the protein.