Abstract
Plasma separation experiments with a hollow fibrous filter were made to clarify the effects of hematocrit, protein concentration and wall shear rate on filtrate flux. The resistance of the polarization layer caused by red blood cells is the dominant factor in filtration and accounts for 50 to 80% of total filtration resistance. Factors governing the filtrate flux in plasma separation are plasma viscosity, hematocrit and wall shear rate. An estimation equation for filtrate flux is proposed.
Membrane structural changes after plasma separation were evaluated to clarify fouling characteristics in plasma separation by using radioisotope-labeled solute and scanning electron microscopy. The decrease in pore diameter and surface porosity is attributed to both protein adsorption onto pore walls and plugging by red blood cells.
