Influence of the concentration of a low-molecular organic solute on the flux reduction of a polyethersulphone ultrafiltration membrane

Drastic flux reductions are sometimes encountered during ultrafiltration of solutes much smaller than the membrane pores. This usually occurs during ultrafiltration of hydrophobic, low-molecular solutes, such as fatty acids, alcohols and alkanes. The influence of the concentration of a carboxylic acid, octanoic acid, on the flux of a polyethersulphone membrane was studied in this investigation. The concentration was found to have a marked influence on the flux. The flux reduction was moderate at low concentrations, but became severe above a certain, critical concentration. Two fur-reducing mechanisms were evaluated; reduction of the effective pore radius by adsorption of solute molecules on the pore walls, and blocking of pores by capillary condensation. The adsorption of octanoic acid on a hydrophobic solid surface was studied by null ellipsometry.