I am developing membranes using PSf, PES, or PVDF. I would like to understand their chemical compatibility a little more with common clean in place solutions used in industry, specifically for spiral wound membranes or other membranes used in the microalgae industry.
Most of the filters come with instructions which you can get from the vendors. Back-washing with tap water is probably the most common. That can be followed with a 0.1M sodium hydroxide soak and another backwash. Then flushing with the normal water used in the growth system. Some materials may have other limits on the chemical soak; you don't want to soften or melt the filter. Also, a sanitizing step can be used with dilute hypoclorate (clorox).
Hello Reuben Gol;
I agree with Barry C Smith about the use of NaOH. I invite you to read my RG answer for membrane fouling treatments,
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_most_suitable_method_to_remove_membrane_fouling
where I list a number of aqueous solutions used for in situ membrane thorough washing. Basically the complete fouling treatment procedure uses an alkaline step (0.2% NaOH), an acid wash (0.2% HCl). and in case of severe fouling an enzymatic step can also be used as well as chlorine. In addition to this, in the case that you need your membranes suitable for aseptic processes, a chlorine solution is commonly used (200 ppm) for a standard cleaning-in-place procedure. However a strong chlorine solution (0.5%) may also be used for washing in the case of severe membrane fouling. Thefore, you may also want to consider membrane resistance to chlorine. The commercial membranes that I used (Millipore, USA) are resistant to chlorine and to a wide range of pH, from 1 to 14.
Hope this helps,
Rogelio.
All very helpful responses. Thank you Barry C Smith and Rogelio Valadez-Blanco
I will take this all into account throughout my research. Very much appreciated.
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