Ultrafiltration flux theory based on viscosity and osmotic effects: application to diafiltration optimisation

摘要

The optimisation of diafiltration is examined using the new theory of ultrafiltration based on osmotic pressure and the viscosity dependence of the mass trasnfer coefficient. It is shown that, if the permeate flux is maintained at the limiting value at each bulk macrosolute concentration, the diafiltration time always decreases with increasing concentration. However, the trasmembrane pressure required to reach the limiting flux increases rapidly with concentration, thus putting a practical limit on the concentrations at which an ultrafiltration system canb e operated under limiting flux conditions.