Characterization of membrane fouling and rinsing efficiency by streaming potential and flux method

With the flux decline coefficient (m_f), flux recovery coefficient (m_r), streaming potential (SP) decline coefficient (k_f) and SP recovery coefficient (k_f), the fouling extent of membrane and its rinsing efficiency were quantitatively characterized. This combined SP and flux method is useful in studying at the interactions between protein and membrane. It was pointed out that the SP variation and flux decline resulted from both the interior BSA adsorption and the exterior BSA fouling (adsorption and deposition). For the SP variation, the interior BSA adsorption was a more important factor. Flux decline was mainly caused by the exterior BSA fouling.