Threshold flux in fouling of UF membranes by colloidal iron

Fouling of 50 kDa MWCO UF membranes by iron colloid solutions was studied under constant pressure conditions and constant flux conditions at pH 5 and 7 and at various iron concentrations. By using measurements of both deposit density and changes in the transmembrane zeta potential, threshold fluxes were found that were significantly lower than the critical flux based on the increase in membrane resistance. Results are consistent with the initial phase of fouling involving pore blockage followed by cake filtration-like behavior. The dependence of fouling rate on iron colloid concentration can best be understood by realizing that only a small fraction of the iron colloid is of a size that contributes to fouling.