Membrane Fouling Characterization by Confocal Scanning Laser Microscop

1. Membrane Fouling Characterization by Confocal Scanning Laser Microscop student: Maria Zator supervisor: Carme Guell Unitat d'Enologia del CeRTA. Departament d’Enginyeria Química, ETSEQ, URV 18.01.2005 Tarragona, Spain

2. Outlines Membrane Fouling Characterization by Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy 1.Membrane fouling ... a. Importance... b. Some definitions... 2.Membrane fouling characterisation... 3.from membrane separation to CSLM analysis... 4.Results... 5.Conclusions... 6.Future plans...

3. fundamental mechanisms & processes involved not fully understood novel, non-invasive, in-situ quantification of physico-chemical processes key to breakthroughs in the understanding of fouling phenomena appropriate strategy for membrane fouling characterization Confocal Scanning Laser Microscope 1a. What is important ... Fouling characterisation - generally Fouling characterisation – present study

4. EXTERNAL FOULING INTERNAL FOULING Flux as a function of time. 1b. ...membrane fouling... What is the problem ...? The biggest problem associated with the application of the separation processes for membranes is FOULING What is fouling ...? The (ir)reversible deposition of retained particles, colloids, emulsions, suspensions, macromolecules, salts etc. on or in the membrane. Why fouling is a problem ...? The fouling is manifested as a decrease of the permeate flux during the time of filtration

5. 2. Membrane fouling characterisation Indirect methods In situ methods Analysis of the chemical composition of the permeate and retentate Visualization of the adsorption/deposition of particles on the surface of membranes Evaluation of permeate flux and total resistance versus time Monitoring techniques for concentration polarization Chemical and physical analysis of membranes (microscopic techniques: SEM and AFM) Monitoring techniques for cake layer formation Monitoring techniques for pore blockage New Method CSLM Confocal Scanning Laser Microscope excellent technique to visualise protein adsorption to porous particles and membranes

6. DEAD – END MODUL 1. STIRRER PUMP BALANCE 2. 4. cover glass moviol 3. slide COMPUTER 5. CSLM 5 % 3. From membrane separation to CSLM analysis Filtration plant Sample preparation Data gathering

7. BSA-fluoresceinconjugate. OVA-TexasRed conjugate. Data about pore surface in which protein was detected CSLM BSA-fluorescein and OVA-TexasRed conjugate. ZX XY ZY 4. Results CSLM : 6,5% +/- 0,5 SEM : 7,1 % +/- 0,6 Determination of surface porosity IMAGE ANALYSIS Location and identification of the adsorbed/deposited proteins Orthogonal view of the 3D reconstruction Fouling morphology Volumetric 3D reconstruction CSLM BSA-fluorescein and OVA-TexasRed conjugate.

8. ZX XY ZY 5. Conclusions CSLM can be used to characterize membrane several agents in a mixture that cause fouling can be visualised information about the presence of proteins on the surface and inside the membrane can be obtained prevailing mechanism during fouling and the major fouling agent can be identified the formation of cake on the top of the membrane and/or the pore constriction caused by deposition or adsorption of foulant can be visualised

9. FUTURE PLANS 6. ... and further steps... Characterisation of reversible/irreversible membrane fouling filtration module modifications to carry out on-line experiments Quantitative information about membrane fouling Set up membrane cleaning procedure

10. Questions ?????