Prevention of solute deposition fouling in membrane processes

摘要

A method for preventing fouling in apparatus used to separate a solvent from a solute which includes a semi-permeable membrane barrier is disclosed. The method comprises providing a quantity of nucleation crystals in the fluid stream passing through the separation apparatus which causes preferential precipitation of the solute thereby eliminating the formation of deposits on the membrane barrier. An apparatus for carrying out the process of the invention is also disclosed.