Abstract
The separation characteristics of microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes depend on their physical properties such as their porosity, pore size distribution and pore structure. However, such membranes cannot be understood simply as sieves. Neither in this context can the materials to be separated, particles, colloids, microbial cells or proteins, be sufficiently characterised in terms of size or molecular weight. In particular, the electrochemical properties of the membrane surfaces and dispersed materials or solutes can have a significant influence on the nature and magnitude of the interactions between the membrane and the substances being processed. This chapter begins by describing the nature of these electrochemical properties and their influence on conventional pressure driven membrane processes. It is then shown how the application of external electric fields can make use of these properties to substantially improve the performance of membrane separations, giving a range of processes known collectively as electrofiltration or electrically enhanced membrane processes.
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© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Bowen, W.R. (1993). Electrochemical Aspects of Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration. In: Howell, J.A., Sanchez, V., Field, R.W. (eds) Membranes in Bioprocessing: Theory and Applications. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2156-9_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2156-9_8
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