Membrane filtration is a major separation technology for particles and materials in the submicron- and micron- size range (roughly one- millionth of a meter). One of the major problems in the widespread use of this technology has been the fouling of membrane surface (and hence the decline in the effectiveness of the membrane) due to the deposition of the particles. This is a complex phenomenon and requires a reasonable understanding of how the particles are carried from the bulk to the surface, how a cake at the surface forms and compacts, and how these affect performance. This research aims at a comprehensive (experimental and theoretical) study of fouling.
