Abstract
For the purpose to standardize method to determine molecular weight (Mw) cut-off characteristics of ultrafiltration (UF) sheet membranes, firstly the efficiency of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis method was investigated, secondly the effect of operating conditions of linear velocity (u) 0.15-0.60 m/s, transmembrane pressure (TMP) 10-200 kPa and feed PEG concentration (C) 500-10, 000 mg/l with five polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different average Mw 1, 000, 3, 000, 7, 500 and 20, 000 mixtured solution, using three UF sheet membranes, lastly Mw cut-off characteristics of nine UF sheet membranes were measured with five PEG mixtured solution, using GPC analysis method. Mw cut-off characteristics by GPC analysis method with PEG mixtured solution agreed well with that by TOC analysis method with single PEG solution, but slightly shift to the left compared with that by protein method. Mw cut-off characteristics did not depend on u and C, but significantly depended on TMP. The obtained Mw cut-off characteristics became smaller than that of catalog.
