PREVENTION OF FLUX DECLINE IN ELECTRICAL MICROFILTRATION

Dewatering, or limited thickening, of dilute suspensions can be achieved using microfiltration, but is accompanied by the undesirable permeate flux decline. Experimental data showing this effect are presented, and data indicating some alleviation of the problem using electrical fields are shown. Various models claimed to interpret flux decline are overviewed and discussed. Although some reflect the shape of the flux curve, all must be critized on the basis that they do not provide any insight as to the causes of the phenomenon.