Pilot study on the effects of operating parameters on membrane fouling during ultrafiltration of alkali/surfactant/polymer flooding wastewater: optimization and modeling

and CF of 5 were the most feasible operating conditions for the membrane types and raw water quality parameters in the study. The quality of the permeate met the water quality standards for injection to oilfield low-permeability layers. The results could provide a reference and guidance for practical operations. To learn more about the influences of the operating parameters, a model including external and internal pollution factors was developed based on the Hagen-Poiseuille equation and classical membrane fouling theory. The operating parameters had a more significant effect on external pollution than on internal pollution. The fouling on the membrane surface was much affected by TMP and CFV.