Department of Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology BEL416: Membrane Applications in Bioprocessing Home Work Sheet #2 August 14, 2012

1. Calculate the water flux (in LMH) through a microfiltration membrane (NMWCO= 80,000) with a mean pore diameter of 5.4 nm, pore density of 2.4x1011 pores/cm2 and skin thickness of 0.4m at an applied pressure of 125 kPa at 27C. Water viscosity is 1cp. 2 (a). Actual bubble point pressures are frequently found to be much lower than theoretically calculated bubble points for membranes. Explain the reason. 2 (b). Calculate the diameter of the pore of the membrane, which has a bubble point pressure of 75 psig when the test was carried out with water at 20C with a surface tension of 70 dyne/cm. The membrane is highly wettable and the contact angle can be assumed to be zero. Is this diameter of the largest/smallest/average pore? 3 (a). A membrane had a pore density of 8x 109 pores per square centimeter of the surface area. The mean diameter of the pores was same as the diameter obtained in the previous question. The thickness of the membrane skin was 1x 10-5 cm. Calculate the maximum and minimum flux that could be obtained when using the membrane to filter a microbial cell solution with a viscosity of 1.5 cp. The pressure across the membrane is maintained using a nitrogen gas cylinder, which can provide upto 100 kPa pressure above the atmospheric pressure. If the initial feed had a concentration of 8x109 cells/mL, and the final permeate had a concentration of 55 cells/mL, calculate the Log Reduction Value. 3 (b). The flux calculated from Hagen-Poiseuille model show greater discrepancy from the experimentally observed values with decreasing pore size. State some possible reasons. 3 (c). What do you mean by Integrity testing of membranes? How is it done? 4. During Ultra filtration of skim milk having a protein concentration of (CB) 2.4% w/v, in a Hollow Fiber unit (PM 50), a polarized gel layer was formed at the surface of the membrane. The concentration of the protein in the gel layer (CG) was 16% w/v and the concentration of the protein in the permeate (CP) was 0.3%. Resistance values for skim milk for the unit used determined to be:
Membrane Resistance (RM)=0.16 KPa /LMH; Fouling Resistance (RF)=0.7 KPa /LMH; Resistance due to CP (RG)=3.7 kPa /LMH; The average trans membrane pressure used was 114 kPa.

(a) Using The Resistance Model, calculate the value of the Flux that would be obtained using this module. (b) Calculate the number of hollow fibers required to obtain the flux using the Mass transfer model, for a cross flow rate (Q) of 40 L/min. Given: Density () = 1.03 g/cm3, Viscosity () = 0.8 cP, Diffusivity (D) = 7x 10-7 cm2/sec,
Diameter of Hollow Fibre (d) = 0.11 cm, Length of Fibre = 63.5 cms

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