J. Phys. IV France 123 (2005) 371-375
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:2005123068

Electrostatic interactions as governing the fouling in protein microfiltration

M. Ouammou¹, N. Tijani², J.I. Calvo³, L. Palacio³, P. Prádanos³ and A. Hernández<sup>3

1</sup>  Laboratoire Matériaux, Catalyse et Environnement, Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Hassan II Mohammedia, BP. 146, Quartier Yasmina, 20650 Mohammedia, Maroc
²  Laboratoire de Chimie Minérale, Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Moulay Ismail, BP. 4010, Beni M'Hamed, Meknes, Maroc
³  Group of Surfaces and Porous Materials, Dpto. Termodinámica y Física Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Valladolid, 47071 Valladolid, Spain

Abstract
The influence of pH and electrostatic interactions on the fouling mechanism during protein dead-end microfiltration (MF) has been investigated for two charged membranes. Polyethersulfone acidic membranes (ICE-450), being negatively charged, and basic ones (SB-6407), these positively charged, both from Pall Co., have been used in the investigations. BSA and Lysozyme solutions at different pH values (3.0, 5.0, 7.0, 8.5 and 10.0) were microfiltered through the membranes at a constant applied transmembrane pressure. Results have been analysed in terms of usual blocking filtration laws and a substantial change in the fouling behaviour has been observed when solution pH and/or membrane charge as the pressure was changed, this change being clearly related with the specific membrane-protein and protein-protein interactions.

© EDP Sciences 2005