A physicochemical investigation of membrane fouling in cold microfiltration of skim milk
The main challenge in microfiltration (MF) is membrane fouling, which leads to a significant decline in permeate flux and a change in membrane selectivity over time. This work aims to elucidate the mechanisms of membrane fouling in cold MF of skim milk by identifying and quantifying the proteins...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier Science
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/37677/1/PIIS0022030214003865.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/37677/ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00220302 |
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| Summary: | The main challenge in microfiltration (MF) is membrane fouling, which leads to a significant decline in permeate flux and a change in membrane selectivity over
time. This work aims to elucidate the mechanisms of
membrane fouling in cold MF of skim milk by identifying and quantifying the proteins and minerals involved
in external and internal membrane fouling. Microfiltration was conducted using a 1.4-μm ceramic membrane,
at a temperature of 6 ± 1°C, cross-flow velocity of 6
m/s, and transmembrane pressure of 159 kPa, for 90
min. Internal and external foulants were extracted from
a ceramic membrane both after a brief contact between
the membrane and skim milk, to evaluate instantaneous adsorption of foulants, and after MF. Four foulant streams were collected: weakly attached external
foulants, weakly attached internal foulants, strongly attached external foulants, and strongly attached internal
foulants. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem
mass spectrometry analysis showed that all major milk
proteins were present in all foulant streams. Proteins
did appear to be the major cause of membrane fouling.
Proteomics analysis of the foulants indicated elevated
levels of serum proteins as compared with milk in the
foulant fractions collected from the adsorption study.
Caseins were preferentially introduced into the fouling
layer during MF, when transmembrane pressure was
applied, as confirmed both by proteomics and mineral
analyses. The knowledge generated in this study advances the understanding of fouling mechanisms in cold
MF of skim milk and can be used to identify solutions
for minimizing membrane fouling and increasing the
efficiency of milk MF. |
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