Pretreatment of Polysulfone Ultrafiltration Membrane by Brij-58 for Reduction of Antifoam Fouling

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the pretreatment of polysulfone ultrafiltrationmembrane by nonionic surfactant, Brij-58 for reduction of membrane fouling by two types ofantifoams, Disfoam CE-120R, and silicone oil. Two treatment methods were employed, i.e., thestatic method, in which the membrane was soaked in the pretreatment solution for 24 hours, andthe dynamic method, in which the solution was recirculated through the membrane at 4 differentpressures for 2 hours.

The permeation flux of antifoam solutions through the pretreated membrane was higherthan that of the non-pretreatment membrane and pretreatment by dynamic method gave higher fluxthan that of the static method. Comparison of pretreatment by dynamic method at different pressuresshowed that the permeation flux was highest for the membrane pretreated at 68.94 kPa. Foulingresistance was the major resistance which reduced the permeation flux and pretreatment was able todecrease flow resistances of approximately 15-45 %.

Keywords : Ultrafiltration / Polysulfone / Membrane Pretreatment / Fouling /Surfactant / Antifoam