Harvesting microalgae using vibrating, negatively charged, patterned polysulfone membranes

Abstract Key issues for membrane technology in harvesting microalgae are to reach high fluxes and alleviate fouling by microalgal cells extracellular organic matter. To achieve this goal, negatively charged patterned membranes were prepared from polysulfone/sulfonated polysulfone (PSf/sPSf) blends using a spray-modified phase inversion method, the effect of sPSf on morphology filtration performance was investigated. The with highest concentration exhibited clean water permeance (2420 ± 260 L/m2 h bar), lowest intrinsic resistance (6.1 m-1) critical flux (55 L/m2 h) microalgae. Membrane vibration could mitigate both flat membranes. system can easily turbulent flow at frequencies higher than 7 Hz. synergy between vibration, surface pattern charge thus resulted clearly enhanced performance.