FILTRATION WITH INTERNAL FOULING CONTROL

摘要

Filtration processes and systems are provided for the separation of a filterable fluid stream by a filtration membrane module with uniform transmembrane pressure and flux along the membrane and internal control of membrane fouling via intermittent periodic reduction of the pressure differential between the permeate and retentate sides of the membrane and/or backwashing cycles during separation, recovery, and/or purification of proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, biologically produced polymers and other compounds or materials from aqueous fluids.

主权项

1. A filtration system comprising:
(a) spiral wound filtration membrane module, comprising:
a spirally wound membrane,a retentate channel extending along a retentate side of the membrane for receiving a feed stream from a feed stream inlet and flow of retentate axially across a retentate side of the membrane to a retentate outlet for discharge from the module;a permeate channel located on a permeate side of the membrane that is opposite to the retentate side, for radial flow of permeate passing through the membrane to a central permeate collection tube in fluid communication therewith,said collection tube containing at least one flow resistance element and defining a fluid channel for flow of collected permeate to a permeate outlet for discharge of collected permeate from the module, and said collection tube has a permeate inlet for introducing at least a portion of discharged permeate back into the collection tube; (b) a permeate pump for returning a portion of the permeate discharged from said permeate collection tube at a controllable rate into the permeate inlet of the collection tube; (c) a feed stream pump for feeding the feed stream to the feed stream inlet at a controllable rate, wherein said permeate pump and feed stream pump being mutually controllable, (d) a controller for mutual control of the permeate pump and feed stream pump such the respective feed stream and permeate flow rates into the membrane module are mutually controllable effective to provide alternating separation and defouling phases during a production run wherein uniform transmembrane pressure is substantially maintained axially along the membrane during both phases of operation.