Analysis of the fouling mechanisms during cross-flow ultrafiltration of apple juice

The purpose of this work was to study the fouling mechanisms of a Carbosep^® M8 membrane during the cross-flow ultrafiltration of apple juice. A new fouling model has been developed that simultaneously considers membrane blocking within the pores, at the pore mouths and by cake formation at the membrane surface. Membrane fouling by apple juice was due to internal pore blocking as well as cake formation. When operating ultrafiltration at a transmembrane pressure of 150 kPa and a cross-flow velocity of 7 m/s, fouling was minimal with a gradual decrease of the relative contribution of cake formation; however, transmembrane pressure still exceeds critical pressure. The fouling model predicts no cake formation at a cross-flow velocity of 7.4 m/s and a transmembrane pressure of 150 kPa or at a cross-flow velocity of 7.0 m/s and a transmembrane pressure of 120 kPa. Under these conditions, internal membrane blocking would be the only mechanism responsible for the decrease of permeate flux.