Variation of permeation flux in an ultrafiltration reactor with immobilized enzyme

REGENHARDT, SILVINA; MAMMARELLA, ENRIQUE; RUBIOLO, AMELIA

LATIN AMERICAN APPLIED RESEARCH

PLAPIQUI(UNS-CONICET)

Lugar: Bahia Blanca; Año: 2012

0327-0793

The performance of membrane processes is dependent of flux permeate during operationwhich presents a decreasing rate at a given time more relevant when there is chemical reactioninvolved. Flux decline with pressure and temperature was studied in a protein concentrationsystem of cheese whey with polyethersulfone (PES, 10 kDa) membrane with an enzyme (EC 3.2.1.23) chemically attached. Results of whey permeation at different pressures were used to find the parameters of the proposed model to describe the dynamics of flux decline. The mechanism of membrane fouling was also analyzed by blocking filtration law, which is almost always dominated the standard blocking at the early stage in such filtration processes (55 °C – 100 and 200 kPa). The fouling mechanism is strongly dependent on pressure and temperature. Pressures above 200 kPa produce irreversible fouling and temperatures below 55 °C could cause calcium salts deposition. Experimental results indicate that the effect of the immobilized enzyme on the membrane does not affect the fouling being only due to the protein content of whey accumulated. This research can be used to determine the adequate time for membrane cleaning and to consider some possibilities to prevent severe fouling without changing the industrial performance parameters.