A mini-module with built-in spacers for high-throughput ultrafiltration

Ultrafiltration membrane modules suffer from a permeate flow decrease arising during filtration and caused by concentration polarization fouling in, e.g., fermentation broth purification. Such performance losses are frequently mitigated manipulating the hydrodynamic conditions at membrane-fluid interface using, mesh spacers acting as static mixers. This additional element increases manufacturing complexity while improving mass transport in general, yet accepting their known disadvantages such less dead zones. However, shape of is limited to design commercially available spacer geometries. Here, we present methodology an industrially relevant mini-module with optimized built-in 3D structure flat-sheet ultrafiltration module eliminate separate part. Therefore, structures have been conceptually implemented through in-silico compliance specifications for injection molding process. Ten were investigated digital twin 3D-CFD simulations select two options, which then compared empty feed channel regarding transfer. Subsequently, simulated flux increase was experimentally verified bovine serum albumin (BSA) filtration. The new sinusoidal corrugation outperforms conventional inlays up 30% higher permeation rates. origin these improvements correlated characteristics inside visualized online in-situ low-field high-field magnetic resonance imaging velocimetry (flow-MRI) pure water permeation.