Self‐cleaning membranes for ultrafiltration

In order to reduce the severe flux losses encountered during ultrafiltration of protein solutions, proteases were immobilized on Ultrafiltration membranes to hydrolyze the deposited solute molecules. Over a standard 22 hr run 25 to 78% improvement in cumulative permeate yield was obtained when processing 0.5% albumin or hemoglobin. It was also demonstrated that the flux enhancements were due to the biochemical action of the absorbed protease and not to its physical effect as a prefilter coat. with the aid of a model retardation of gel formation mechanism was demonstrated. Economics of the system were shown to be favorable, improving the rate of return on capital investment up to 50% by reduction of the total membrane area of the plant.