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A model of ceramic membrane fouling during heavy oil ultrafiltration
Author(s) -
Duong Anna,
Smith Kevin J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450750616
Subject(s) - ultrafiltration (renal) , asphaltene , fouling , membrane , ceramic membrane , ceramic , materials science , adsorption , membrane fouling , chemical engineering , chromatography , permeation , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , engineering , biochemistry
Fouling of asymmetric, single tube ceramic membranes during ultrafiltration of Cold Lake heavy oil, is described by a pore restriction fouling model that predicts reduced permeate flux but increased asphaltene rejection with increased time‐on‐stream. Application of the model to experimental data showed that a 2nd‐order rate of asphaltene adsorption/deposition within the membrane pores, described the data better than a 1st‐order model. The asphaltene molecular radius, estimated as a parameter of the model, was in the range 3.8 ‐ 14.2 nm, depending on the membrane pore diameter. These values are in good agreement with previously published estimates of asphaltene particle size, determined using different experimental techniques.