Modeling ultrafiltration flux of non-Newtonian xanthan gum solution

• Main Authors: Almendrala, Michelle C., Salvacion, Jonathan L., Yang, Shang-Tian
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: Ultrafiltration; Xanthan gum; Chemical Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/12323
• Institution: De La Salle University

The gel polarization model was modified to express the permeate flux as function of the operating parameters in ultrafiltration of xanthan gum solution. The modified gel model integrated the average wall shear stress per unit length of the membrane (Yw/L) to predict ultrafiltration flux using a hollow fiber membrane module. Empirical data on the various operating variables were used to study gel polarization model. The data and correlation were able to predict the flux behavior on the assumptions made for the constant and variable gel layer concentration. It was observed that the effects of temperature, concentration, transmembrane pressure, and shear rate are interdependent. From the results, it can be concluded that the resulting permeate flux is primarily controlled by the wall shear rate. Achievment of high fluxes depends therefore, upon operating at flow conditions that maximize the rate of mass transfer from the membrane surface. In laminar flow systems, this is achieved by operating at high fluid velocities across membrane surface. The predicted results based from the mathematical model were similar and found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.