Modeling of micro-filtration fouling in protein solutions using pore-network model

The main goal of this article is studying the mechanism of protein adsorption on membrane surface. Accordingly, membrane was considered as a network consisting of pore and throats. In each throat, flow rate calculated with determination of pressure drop and flow at the network entrance. Then with simultaneous solution of diffusion, convection, denaturation and aggregation equation of proteins with mass transport equation in nodes, the concentration distribution was obtained in whole network in each time step. Based on node’s concentration, the extent of fouling and permeability reduction were obtained. Therefore it was possible to predict the life time of membrane and represent the average permeability of the system. The solution used, was Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) as the model protein. To study the permeability reduction and data evaluation, a micromodel, as a suitable tool for visually studying the surface mechanisms, was used. Compaq visual FORTRAN 6.5 was used to model the process. Results show that the method of heat treatment of protein, the flow rate into micro-model and the average pore size distribution of the system are the effective parameters on aggregation and adsorption of proteins. Fitting parameters of model including release and capture coefficients of proteins on micromodel surface obtained using experimental data.

Keywords:

micro filtration , fouling , protein , micro model