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In this study, we investigated and compared the performance (permeate flux, solute rejection and membrane fouling) of an ultrafiltration membrane and a nanofiltration membrane with water and formamide as solvent. The dextran solutions with water as solvent had lower electrical conductivity and usually greater surface charge compared to that in formamide, which facilitated the electrostatic interactions taken place. As a result, faster flux decline and greater fouling resistance were usually observed in water-based solutions in both UF and NF with the same dextran used as solute. In UF, the solute rejection usually increased as the solvent switched from formamide to water, since stronger electrostatic interactions tended to impede the transport of solute through membrane. Opposite trend was found with NF, that formamide usually led to higher solute rejection compared to water as solvent. Despite the differences of surface charge altered the membrane performance prominently, no quantitative correlation was found between permeate flux and zeta potential values. The analysis using a modified Hermia's pore blocking model indicates that the fouling mechanisms could be altered as the change of solute to membrane pore size ratio, surface charge of membranes and solutes, as well as the solvent properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to understand both external and internal membrane fouling by three proteins with different net charges, namely, negatively charged pepsin and bovine serum albumin (BSA), as well as positively charged lysozyme. Polycarbonate track-etched (PCTE) membranes were used. Per electrostatic attraction, the flux decline was the worst for lysozyme, which is attributed by the fouling model to the greatest pore blockage (α) and pore constriction (β), and by field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to the most extensive external fouling. Between pepsin and BSA, BSA gave worse flux decline despite its more negative net charge. The fouling model indicates that BSA gave greater pore blockage (α) and denser internal cake (R c / R m), while the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) indicates a rigid cake structure. Notably, despite monotonic flux decline with filtration, the OCT fouling voxel trends show significant fluctuations, which has not been reported before and thus signify the unique behavior of protein foulants in straight-through pores. Specifically, the trends below and above the −4.5 μm layer (i.e., 4.5 μm below the feed-membrane interface) are perfectly opposite, indicating the non-uniform protein deposits slipping downwards in the membrane pores as filtration progressed. The dynamic movements of the protein cakes unveiled here warrant more understanding in future studies. • Surprising fluctuations of OCT fouled voxels despite monotonically decreasing flux. • Dynamic downward motion of fouled protein deposit in the straight-through pores. • Delayed fluctuations by BSA tied to densest and most rigid cake. • Worst flux decline by lysozyme due to high pore blockage and pore constriction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]