Sieving Capture of Liquidborne Particles by microporous membrane filtration media

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Abstract
Test methodology has been developed to measure the particle removal efficiency of microporous membrane filtration media under conditions in which sieving is the dominant particle capture mechanism. The methodology was used to determine the particle capture efficiency of a 0.45 μm membrane filter for removal of submicrometer sized particles from DI water. Particle capture was found to be a strong function of particle diameter, filter media thickness, and filter loading. Particle removal efficiency increased with increasing particle diameter and media thickness. It decreased with increased filter loading when the filters were challenged with the smaller particles used in this study. Removal efficiency initially decreased then subsequently increased during loading with larger particles. Capture was independent of filtration velocity and particle concentration. A sieving model was developed to predict particle capture by the filter media as a function of particle diameter, filter thickness and filter loading. The model was found to accurately predict breakthrough of monodisperse particle suspensions through the media. Particle breakthrough occurred more slowly than predicted when the filters were challenged with a polydisperse particle suspension.