Calculation of flow and solute deposition through three-dimensional reconstructed model of microporous membranes Original Research Article

The morphology of a typical microfiltration membrane is a random, irregular, three-dimensional, and interconnected network. In this study, a realistic model of microporous membrane was obtained using Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM). CSLM allows accurate and non-destructive membrane sectioning in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the microscope. Microporous membranes made of mixed ester (cellulose nitrate/cellulose acetate) with 1.2 μm pore size were investigated. Optical sections of the MF membrane mounted in immersion oil were recorded on all the membrane depth. The numerical permeabilities were obtained by solving the Stokes equation for this three-dimensional media and were compared to experimental results. Finally, the simulation of solute transport through the microporous membrane was discussed by considering convection-diffusion equations.