Effects of electric field on dynamic behaviors of dead-end inclined and downward ultrafiltration of protein solutions

The effects of a direct current electric field on the transient and dynamically balanced filtration rate in dead-end inclined and downward ultrafiltration were explored under constant pressure using protein (bovine serum albumin) solution. It is found that, in downward electro-ultrafiltration, the dynamically balanced filtration rate q(e) is directly proportional to the electric field strength E. Also, in inclined electro-ultrafiltration, q(e) increases with E above the critical electric field strength E-c. However, q(e) becomes invariant below E-c. The model was developed to describe the processes occurring during inclined and downward electro-ultrafiltration, and it accounted well for the variation in filtration rate with time. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.