A combined fouling model to describe the influence of the electrostatic environment on the cross-flow microfiltration of BSA

In this paper, the influence of pH in the 3–9 interval and NaCl concentration up to 25 mM on the cross-flow microfiltration of BSA was studied. A tubular ceramic membrane with a mean pore size of 0.14 μm was employed. The evolution of permeate flow and BSA transmission with time was determined at 30 °C, a cross-flow velocity of 3.28 m/s and a transmembrane pressure of 100 kPa. The flow data were discussed by means of combination of two fouling mechanisms: complete and standard blocking when transmission of proteins occurred and complete blocking and cake formations otherwise. The effective radius of the protein and the electrostatic interactions protein–membrane explained the transmission protein values.