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Fouling of nanofiltration membranes used for separation of fermented glycerol solutions

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Abstract

In this study, the glycerol solutions were fermented using Lactobacillus casei bacteria. The broths were pre-treated by microfiltration, followed by a further separation with nanofiltration. The latter process was carried out in two stages, using the NF270 and NF90 membranes, respectively. The concentrates thus obtained were enriched with citric acid (first stage) and then with lactic acid and glycerol (second stage). By means of SEM and AFM microscopy, as well as ATR-FTIR analysis, the intensity of membrane-fouling was studied. The colloidal fouling and bio-fouling caused a more than two-fold decrease in the permeate flux during microfiltration of the broth. This pre-treatment stage was effective, and a permeate turbidity of less than 0.2 NTU was obtained. However, the nanofiltration membranes exhibited a 30 % flux decline over the course of the process, mainly due to the organic fouling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemical Technology and Environmental Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology, ul. Pułaskiego 10, 70-322, Szczecin, Poland

    Justyna Bastrzyk, Marek Gryta & Krzysztof Karakulski

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  1. Justyna Bastrzyk
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  2. Marek Gryta
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  3. Krzysztof Karakulski
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Correspondence to Marek Gryta.

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Presented at the 40th International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering, Tatranské Matliare, 27–31 May 2013.

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Bastrzyk, J., Gryta, M. & Karakulski, K. Fouling of nanofiltration membranes used for separation of fermented glycerol solutions. Chem. Pap. 68, 757–765 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11696-013-0520-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11696-013-0520-8

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